Finding Common Ground, Valuing Different Views

These teleconferences are the best education in philanthropy that one can find anywhere. Even for those of us with decades of experience they continue to reveal nuances and best practices that we can use in our grantmaking. Bravo to the National Center for setting the bar so high for us and then helping us achieve it.

This event exceeded my expectations. The speakers were candid and informative as well as practical and inspiring. I learned a lot.

Thanks for presenting two exemplary foundations with different approaches who continue to learn from each other. What a great message for all families.

Great speakers!

It was a frank conversation with a number of practical recommendations. Rare.

• What I learned: focus on how many people will be affected by a grant rather than how it makes you feel – remove yourself from the equation and keep in mind the mission of the foundation.
• There are different ways to get to the same end
• Learn to trust and respect others on the board. Have a member of another branch of the family mentor new board members.
• Emphasive respect and openness to opinion of others. Leave personal ideologies at door, and developing qualitative criteria for judging requests.
• Establish governance procedures to minimize conflict in the board room.
• It can be very important to have a strong listening chair