How to Serve the Redefined Family

The definition of the American family has morphed alongside an explosion of diversity. Today, homes with unmarried parents, same-sex couples with adopted children, and single parents are as increasingly common as the traditional family of a married husband, wife, and child. With families growing ever more varied, foundations and donor-advised funds need clear advice and guidance regarding who participates in their philanthropy and in what roles.

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As Our Family Grows, How Do We Decide Who Gets to Participate in the Philanthropy?

Article

As our philanthropic family grows more diverse and distinct – as well as more geographically distant from the roots of the founders – how do we decide who should participate in the family’s philanthropy and how they will participate?

Families In Flux: Guidelines for Participation in Your Family’s Philanthropy

Passages Issue Briefs

Family members marry, divorce, remarry, form domestic partnerships and, in many cases, move far away from the family home. With families growing ever more complex, varied, and far-flung, foundations and donor-advised funds need clear guidelines regarding who participates in their philanthropy and in what roles. This Passages report addresses changing …

Managing Family Dynamics: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families

Passages Issue Briefs

Family members marry, divorce, remarry, form domestic partnerships, and, in many cases, move far away from the family home. Siblings may have long established patterns of competitiveness, feelings of fairness, or other sibling rivalry issues. Parents and children may have values that differ significantly. Communication may break down. In turn, …

The Changing Face of Philanthropy: Diversity in Family Giving

Article

Quick, create a mental picture of a philanthropist. What do you see? An older white man? That’s the picture that pops into most of our heads. And it’s not surprising — this is the dominant image of philanthropy in the United States. From Andrew Carnegie to Warren Buffett, these …

The Effects of Family Culture on Family Foundations

Blog Post

Yet it is exactly this—a characteristic way of thinking, feeling, judging, and acting—that defines a culture. In direct and subtle ways, children are molded by the family culture into which they are born. Growing up, their assumptions about what is right and wrong, good and bad, reflect the …

NCFP Webinars

April 12, 2012

Diverse Voices in Family Giving

While little is certain about the future of giving, one trend is clear: the diversity of voices active in family philanthropy will reflect the increasing diversity of society at large. What are the emerging trends in this area, and how can existing family philanthropies network with and promote increased and …

June 13, 2019

The New Normal: How to Serve the Redefined Family

The definition of the American family has morphed alongside an explosion of diversity. Today, homes with unmarried parents, same-sex couples with adopted children, and single parents are as increasingly common as the traditional family of a married husband, wife, and child. With families growing ever more varied, foundations and donor-advised …