Policy Central: Getting Started With Family Philanthropy
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Looking for sample bylaws, donor legacy or intent statements, or sample mission statements? Need an example of a donor advised fund agreement? You're in the right place!
NCFP’s Policy Central includes sample policies and practices in the areas of governance, grantmaking, family dynamics, engaging the next generation, investments, management, and staffing. New samples are added frequently, and are here when you need them!
- Please submit your own policy or sample to share through the NCFP Knowledge Center.
- If you represent a foundation that has an updated version of a sample included here, please contact NCFP staff to update it.
- For assessment tools and other resources related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in family philanthropy, please see our Content Collection on Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Getting Started
Looking for sample bylaws, donor legacy or intent statements, or sample mission statements? Need an example of a donor advised fund agreement? Start here!
Boards and Governance
Boards that anticipate and plan for potential bumps in the road are far more likely to avoid difficult situations than those who create policies while in the middle of crisis. Included here are samples of policies that all well-run boards should consider, including conflict of interest policies, board position descriptions, election and rotation policies, and much more.
Policy Central: Board Meetings, Board Job Descriptions, and Rotation Policies
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Boards that anticipate and plan for potential bumps in the road are far more likely to avoid difficult situations than those who create policies while in the middle of crisis. Included here are conflict of interest policies, board position descriptions, election and rotation policies, and much more. Please read our…
Policy Central: Engaging Next Gen and Extended Family
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Included here are board nomination and application forms, orientation handbooks, sample board member training programs, and much more.
Policy Central: Board Committees
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Board committee members make the necessary decisions and provide the day-to-day oversight needed to ensure that a family foundation board follows its fiduciary and legal responsibilities. See below for examples of the most commonly used foundation board committees.
Grantmaking and Evaluation
Grantmaking policies are essential for boards and staffs seeking to develop efficient systems for tracking, evaluating, and managing progress on current and prospective grants. Included here are samples policies and checklists for budgets, site visits, evaluation forms, discretionary grants, and much more.
Policy Central: Grantmaking and Strategy
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Included here are samples policies and checklists for budgets, site visits, evaluation forms, discretionary grants, and much more.
Investments, Impact Investing, and Spending Policies
Family foundation boards and their staff must develop investment and spending policies and practices that meet legal requirements and are consistent with the goals and mission of their philanthropy. The policies and checklists on this page will help any foundation board seeking to oversee and manage it’s investment strategy.
Policy Central: Investing, Impact Investing, and Spending Policies
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Family foundation boards and their staff must develop investment and spending policies and practices that meet legal requirements and are consistent with the goals and mission of their philanthropy.
Management, Operations, and Staffing
Management and staffing policies are at the heart of good practice for many family philanthropies. Included here are consultant agreements, employee handbooks, internship program descriptions, personnel policies, and polices on record retention, recruitment, reimbursement, personnel evaluation, and more.
Policy Central: Management and Operations Policies
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Included here are consultant agreements, employee handbooks, internship program descriptions, personnel policies, and polices on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), record retention, recruitment, reimbursement, personnel evaluation, and more.
Policy Central: Sample Position Announcements and Job Descriptions
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Here you will find a wide array of position descriptions for many of the most common - as well as a number of not-so-common - staff positions in family philanthropy.