Family Ties: Multigenerational Family Foundation Board Engagement

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

A family throws their hands up in joy on the beach; the photo is taken from the back and with an unfocused lens
Based on interviews with CEOs and family board chairs at seven large, multigenerational family foundations, this publication spotlights the governance practices and structures that these family foundations have created to maintain family involvement; select, orient, and engage family members across generations; and keep the board and foundation focused on impact… Read More

A Date Certain: Lessons from Limited Life Foundations

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

Morning on the beach. Magical sunrise over sea
To learn more about limited life foundations’ decisions to spend down — and the ways in which they grapple with several important issues along their journey to pursuing their goals in a finite period of time — the Center for Effective Philanthropy conducted in-depth interviews with leaders of 11 limited life foundations. Resulting from these interviews, this report illustrates the ways in which limited life foundations approach spending down in nine key areas, including archiving knowledge… Read More

Sharing What Matters: Foundation Transparency – Center for Effective Philanthropy

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

We drew these conclusions from analyses of surveys of 145 independent and community foundation CEOs, a review of more than 70 foundation websites, and surveys of more than 15,000 grantees. Three profiles included in the report—Baptist Healing Trust, Central New York Community Foundation, and an anonymous foundation—provide a more in-depth look into what guides how transparent a foundation chooses to be, and what it means in day-to-day practice… Read More

Share the Power

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

Funders alone cannot achieve the change we hope to see without the knowledge, expertise and muscle of our collective grantees—just as our grantees cannot implement without funders. We are in a symbiotic relationship, and we should be happy about that. We can work together to achieve our mutual goals, but to do so, we—the funders—need to share the power. When… Read More