Nicholas (Nick) Tedesco is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP). NCFP serves as a hub of learning, connection, and collaboration designed to resource and activate a community of families to be intentional philanthropic stewards. Nick is a passionate advocate for philanthropy and brings over a decade of experience partnering with donors and their families to establish and meet their giving goals.

Prior to joining NCFP, Nick served as a Senior Advisor in the J.P. Morgan Philanthropy Centre where he provided clients with insights and services to help meet their philanthropic objectives through innovative advice, thought leadership and opportunities for learning and collaboration.

Previously, Nick served as a Relationship Manager at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he helped launch the Giving Pledge—an effort led by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett to encourage the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. In this role, Nick managed relationships with current and prospective members of the pledge, as well as their staff and advisors. He helped to connect global philanthropists with one another in effort to exchange knowledge and encourage collaboration.

Nick began his career in the social sector as the Deputy Director of the Children’s Health Forum—a national nonprofit focused on the prevention and eradication of childhood diseases that disproportionately impact underserved communities.

Nick was named to the inaugural Chronicle of Philanthropy 40 Under 40 ranking in 2016. He has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal MarketWatch, Time Magazine and other notable publications. He serves as a director of the Wild Elements Foundation—a conscious catalyst for change that accelerates efforts to restore our global ecosystem.

Nick received a B.A. from Villanova University and resides in Washington, D.C.

Contributions

Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Family Philanthropy Speaks: A Conversation with Carrie Avery

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Carrie Avery, Nicholas A. Tedesco

Carrie Avery, chair of the Durfee Foundation board and former chair of the NCFP board, never imagined she would be leading her family’s philanthropy. As a member of the Steering Committee at the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, she also couldn’t have imagined how important the group’s work would become during the recent pandemic and movement for racial justice. In this Family… Read More
From NCFP

A Season of Change

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Nicholas A. Tedesco

One year ago, I joined the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) as its second president and chief executive officer. On my first day, our esteemed founder Ginny Esposito gifted me a plaque engraved with a prophetic message: and so the adventure begins. And what an adventure it has been! As I was finding my footing in a new role,… Read More

Defining and Translating Motivations and Values

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Jaimie Mayer, Nicholas A. Tedesco, Katherine Lorenz

stack of blocks with arrows pointing upward - direction, mission, plan
Clearly defined motivations and values are the underpinning of an effective family philanthropy strategy—they articulate a purpose, provide direction, and serve as a measure of accountability. They are also a dynamic and ever-evolving tool to guide donors and their family through the lifecycle of their philanthropic effort. Yet many families engage in social impact strategies without intentionally identifying aims and… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Edgar Villanueva Speaks on Colonization, Wealth, and Next Steps for Philanthropy

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Nicholas A. Tedesco, Edgar Villanueva

About the Series Philanthropy is a practice borne out of compassion and commitment—and one that is deeply rooted in family. It’s also a practice that must continue to evolve to effectively meet the needs of the communities it seeks to serve. Thankfully, there are countless social sector leaders who are advancing the field with their bold ideas and unwavering enthusiasm… Read More
From NCFP

Current Giving Landscape Calls Attention to Emergent Donor Behavior

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Nicholas A. Tedesco

Over the course of the last year, the world has witnessed unprecedented challenges—the unexpected presence of a devastating pandemic, growing awareness of longstanding racism and pervasive systemic inequality, and a movement to restore democracy. We are in a season of change…and philanthropy is not exempt. When donors were called to action in March, many responded without hesitation, shedding old patterns… Read More

The 2020 Giving Landscape

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Nicholas A. Tedesco, Jen Crino

The sector has evolved in the wake of COVID-19, racial injustice, partisan tension, and economic challenges. How have the events of 2020 altered the pace, method, and effectiveness of donor response? What are some major changes in donor behavior? And what can we expect to be longstanding shifts in the sector? The 2020 Giving Landscape outlines ten significant trends in… Read More

The Evolution of Family Philanthropy: The DR Fund Shares Lessons Learned from 30 Years of Giving

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Camilla Rockefeller, David Rockefeller, Jr., Nicholas A. Tedesco, Lukas Haynes

Philanthropy is an ever-evolving effort—as the world and family shifts, so too must a family’s philanthropy. This nimbleness and ability to adapt is a hallmark of the Rockefeller family, and The David Rockefeller Fund’s 30 year history reflects the fact that while change is inevitable and necessary, it can remain rooted in the values and legacy of family. This discussion… Read More

Balancing Purpose, Payout, and Permanence

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Peter F. Bird, Jr., Liz Sak, George Suttles, Nicholas A. Tedesco, Tony Macklin

“How much should we spend?” It’s an essential question for all funders, and an especially complex one for endowed private foundations. The answer of “around 5%” was never universal as foundations sought creative means of ensuring that assets would serve mission rather than the other way around. In recent times, the pressure to revisit payout has increased. Endowed foundations have… Read More

The Future of Family Philanthropy: Positioning Families for Greatness

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Nicholas A. Tedesco, Kimberly Dasher Tripp

winding road_path_journey_future
Philanthropic families are expanding their impact, knowledge of the field, and becoming increasingly sophisticated in their giving. There is further demand for philanthropic guidance and resources as donors and their families leverage multiple philanthropic vehicles, engage the next generation, and look to increase their payout rates or even spend down. NCFP President and CEO Nick Tedesco has spent the last… Read More

How Family Foundations Can Listen4Good

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Valerie Threlfall, Lisa Sobrato Sonsini, Fay Twersky, Nicholas A. Tedesco, Melinda Tuan

Philanthropy is an ever-evolving practice. It’s clear that partnering with and listening to the people and communities family foundations seek to serve are instrumental to realizing positive and enduring impact over time. This webinar describes Fund for Shared Insight’s Listen4Good feedback initiative and provides guidance on how you and your grantees collect feedback to make agile and informed decisions during this… Read More