As part of its 20th Anniversary, the National Center for Family Philanthropy held a year-long exploration of themes and trends in family philanthropy. This involved convening 17 focus groups around the country. These focus groups were comprised of a wide variety of family foundation representatives, including founding donors, next generations, trustees, and professional staff. This collection includes articles, blog posts, and video perspectives from leading thinkers in the field of family philanthropy, along with NCFP webinars and reports from the field discussing the future of philanthropy.
Perspectives from NCFP and Others in the Field
Looking Ahead to 2019
Article
National Center for Family Philanthropy Board Chair Katherine Lorenz shares our exciting plans for 2019.
The Future of Philanthropy: a New Gospel of Giving?
Article
In “The Gospel of Wealth,” written in 1889 as a manifesto of sorts for the beneficiaries of the first Gilded Age, Andrew Carnegie describes massive inequality as the unavoidable consequence of a free-market system and suggests that philanthropy would ease the pressures created by it. Perhaps it’s time for a…
Fifteen Years, Ten Trends: Then and Now
Article
“Democracy does not give the people the most skillful government, but it produces what the ablest governments are frequently unable to create; namely, an all-pervading and restless activity, a superabundant force, and an energy which is inseparable from it and which may, however unfavorable circumstances may be, produce wonders. These…
Private Philanthropy for Development
Report
Philanthropy’s role in advancing sustainable development attracts a lot of attention. This report calls into question long-held assumptions about the volume, nature and potential of foundations’ engagement in developing countries, and the role they can play to support the SDGs. It presents ground-breaking data and analysis that capture previously non-existent…
NCFP Reports and Webinars
November 14, 2019
New Trends: Research Findings from NCFP’s “Trends 2020” Study
What are new emerging issues facing philanthropic donors and families? How are families’ funding priorities, governance practices, and approaches to giving and decision-making evolving and changing? How are issues of founder participation, choice of lifespan, and the use of multiple giving vehicles affecting the practices and outcomes of family philanthropy?…
March 15, 2018
Imagining the Future: Pursuing Excellence in Family Philanthropy
As NCFP celebrated their 20th Anniversary, we invited people to participate in an exciting new program. NCFP used the opportunity of the anniversary to “Imagine the Future” of the field of family philanthropy. Starting at the 2017 National Forum, NCFP worked closely with the team at the Good Wolf Group…
March 17, 2016
Changemakers: National networks engaging next gen philanthropic leaders
Family foundation boards are expected to see a period of unprecedented change over the next few years, with a new generation of philanthropists poised to take over leadership roles. NCFP's 2015 Trends Study found that 56% of family foundations currently engage younger family members in the foundation's work, and more…
July 11, 2013
15 Years of Advancing Excellence in Family Philanthropy
How has the field of family philanthropy evolved over the past 15 years? And where is it headed in the future? Join this wide-ranging conversation with NCFP President Virginia Esposito and the current and former board chairs of the National Center for Family Philanthropy as they discuss issues, challenges, and…
Additional Reports and Research
Future of Philanthropy Report
Report
This report is the detailed synthesis of insights gained from multiple discussions around the world. It brings together views on how philanthropy is expected to change in the next decade from a wide range of experts from 9 workshops on 4 continents undertaken over the past 12 months in Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala…
The Future of Philanthropy Map
Report
The Future of Philanthropy prepares you for disruptive changes at the intersections of giving, social impact, organization, technology, and human behavior over the next decade. Use this map as a big picture “first look” at the research. Look for connections across the forecasts. Highlight the stories and signals of most…
The Future of Philanthropy: Where Individual Giving is Going
Report
As the philanthropic landscape changes, the way donors perceive and approach giving is evolving, too — though not always at the same pace. This report from Fidelity Charitable® provides insight into the priorities of individual donors, who generate 87 percent of all charitable giving in the United States, and offers…
Philanthropy and the Social Economy: Blueprint Series
Report
Philanthropy and the Social Economy: Blueprint 2017 is an annual industry forecast about the ways we use private resources for public benefit. The Blueprint provides an overview of the current landscape, points to major trends, and directs your attention to horizons where you can expect some important breakthroughs in 2018.
Philanthropy as the South’s Passing Gear: Fulfilling the Promise
Report
Ten years ago, MDC’s report The State of the South 2007: Philanthropy as the South’s “Passing Gear,” asked a key question of the field: How can philanthropy accelerate progress toward a South that is both equitable for all its residents and competitive with other regions of the country? The original…
The Future of Family Philanthropy: Predicting and Preparing
Report
The future of family philanthropy is an uncertain one, with dramatic changes taking place both in families and in philanthropy itself. But along with the uncertainty comes possibility and excitement; along with future challenges there are energized new donors and emerging innovations that could improve family giving in ways few would…
