Voices from the Field

Welcoming Our First Distinguished Fellow in Family Philanthropy

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Virginia M. Esposito

Editor’s note: We are pleased to share NCFP President Virginia Esposito’s introductory remarks announcing our first Distinguished Fellow in Family Philanthropy at the National Forum. Read the official press release for more details. It is an incredible honor to be announcing the first Distinguished Fellow of the National Center for Family Philanthropy. Bruce Maza, CEO of the C. E. and… Read More
Voices from the Field

Susan Packard Orr on the legacy of her parents, David and Lucile Packard

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Cole Wilbur, Susan Packard Orr

Editor’s note: the following is reprinted from Living the Legacy: The Value of a Family’s Philanthropy Across Generations, published by the National Center for Family Philanthropy in 1999. In a family foundation there is no question as to the importance of learning from the donors and carrying out their legacy. David and Lucile Packard left our foundation their estate as… Read More
Voices from the Field

Transparency in Family Foundations: the Strength of Glass Pockets

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Brad Smith

Family foundations, by their very nature, are complex. With significant involvement of family members on the board and sometimes in operations as well, there can be layers of generations, widely divergent views and the need to preserve positive family relationships. This complexity is a challenge but not an excuse for avoiding transparency about how family foundations do their work… Read More
Voices from the Field

Karen Keating Ansara: “I’Ll Have What She’s Having”

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Karen Keating Ansara

Editor’s note: We are pleased to reprint Karen Ansara’s prepared comments (more than were spoken) from her conversation with Lowell Weiss, President, Cascade Philanthropy Advisors; William Campbell, Chair, Campbell Family Foundation and The End Fund; and Mario Morino, Morino Institute and Founding Chairman, Venture Philanthropy Partners on May 8th at the National Forum on Family Philanthropy. These comments were originally posted on… Read More
Voices from the Field

The Next Generation Reinvigorates Philanthropy

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Mark Larimer

One of the most important trends people were talking about at the National Forum on Family Philanthropy was the engagement and involvement of youth (ages 8+) during the grantmaking process. In many ways, it represents the future of grantmaking and how the younger generation’s view of philanthropy will influence the entire charitable community… Read More
Voices from the Field

Diversity as a Family Affair

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Cole Wilbur

What value can diversity bring to the work of family foundations? First of all, diversity is now more interwoven into the fabric of our society, including our neighborhoods, education, business and media. Integrating diversity into many aspects of a family foundation’s work can result in more compelling grantmaking, particularly in responding effectively to demographic changes that nonprofit organizations face every… Read More
Voices from the Field

Breaking Up and Moving On: a Staff Member’s Perspective on the Dissolution of a Family Foundation

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Joel Luedtke

We knew the outcome before the votes were cast. The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation – the proud embodiment of a fortunate family’s abiding compassion – would be split apart. It was October 2010. As a relatively new staff member of the foundation, it was hard for me at that time to see much good coming of this decision… Read More
Voices from the Field

Giving while living: Melinda Gates

Posted on December 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: The National Center has been delighted to partner in 2013 with the Bridgespan Group to share videos from its Conversations with Remarkable Givers series. In this month’s installment, our final in this series, we feature Bridgespan’s interview with Melinda Gates, board member and guiding force behind the world’s largest family foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. As co-chair… Read More
Voices from the Field

Giving while living: Carolyn and Peter Lynch

Posted on November 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: The National Center is delighted to partner in 2013 with the Bridgespan Group to share videos from its Conversations with Remarkable Givers series. In this month’s installment, we feature Bridgespan’s interview with Carolyn and Peter Lynch, co-founders of The Lynch Foundation. Under Peter Lynch, Fidelity Investments’ then-obscure Magellan Fund rose from $18 million in assets in 1977 to… Read More
Voices from the Field

Family Philanthropy and Impact Investing

Posted on November 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

The field of mission-related investing or broadly termed ‘impact investing’ continues to build momentum as investment opportunities span multiple asset classes, infrastructure improvements promote transparency, and social entrepreneurs are building sustainable, scalable companies. To date, industry growth has been driven largely by institutional investors such as public sector pension funds, banks, and private foundations.  We are now seeing a growing… Read More