Self-Dealing and Conflicts of Interest
Posted on November 16, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
This Content Collection defines conflict of interest and self-dealing in family philanthropy, and highlights the most common problem areas, including: excessive compensation, tickets to fundraising events, and overlapping board members. Read More
Family Foundation Board Chair Roles and Responsibilities
Posted on November 15, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
This Content Collection provides a variety of tips and perspectives from current board chairs about how to manage this vital role in family philanthropy. Read More
Capacity Building and General Operating Support
Posted on November 14, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
What is your role as a funder in building the organizational capacity of your grantees? And how can you best ensure that the support you offer is effective? This Content Collection provides tips, tools, perspectives and case studies from family foundations and other funders that have embraced capacity building as a key strategy. Read More
Transitions in Family Philanthropy: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families
Posted on July 31, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
No matter the intensity of the emotions they generate, transitions have the potential to affect the course of your family’s life. These transitions also impact your family’s philanthropy — and how your family chooses to manage its charitable giving vehicles, such as your donor-advised fund or foundation. This Passages Issue Brief provides tips and tools for donor families and community… Read More
Managing Family Dynamics: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families
Posted on June 30, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
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, these common challenges can affect how your family decides to… Read More
What are the roles of board committees?
Posted on June 20, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
Board committees are at the heart of good governance. Committee members should make the necessary decisions and provide the day-to-day oversight needed to ensure that a family foundation board follows its fiduciary and legal obligations. Refer to Policy Central: Board Commitees for examples of how to organize your foundation’s committees. Once board roles have been established, you should then determine how you… Read More
What is the role of the foundation’s president?
Posted on June 19, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
The president is responsible for establishing an efficient and effective infrastructure that enables seamless execution of grantmaking functions and heightens professionalism of the foundation’s operations. The role can be broken down into 5 core responsibilities: Leadership for the foundation’s grantmaking– The president is responsible for focusing on the issues that the trustee’s feel are of great importance. He/she is also… Read More
What constitutes operating expenses for private foundations?
Posted on June 13, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
Operating expenses, also known as overhead, are any cost associated with operating your organization. These costs can then be divided into two subcategories, direct costs and indirect costs. Direct costs can be defined as any expense that is required to develop a project. Indirect costs are expenses that are not related to the actual project. Salaries and office rent are… Read More
Should our foundation focus on being “strategic” or “responsive” in our grantmaking?
Posted on June 9, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
When your board approves a grant, you are hoping and expecting that your philanthropic investment will make a significant impact. In order to become an effective grantmaker, your giving should always align with the core beliefs of your foundation. Beyond this, there are two common approaches that boards take when considering how to allocate the foundation’s resources: strategic or responsive. … Read More
Engaging the Next Generation: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families
Posted on May 31, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
Donor-advised funds are more than just a smart and flexible vehicle for charitable giving. These funds also provide an opportunity to teach children and grandchildren valuable lessons about giving and financial responsibility — and offer a chance to create a philanthropic legacy that spans generations.. This Passages Issue Brief provides advice on how your family can engage the next generation… Read More