National Center for Family Philanthropy

Voices from the Field

I Am Family Philanthropy: Katherine Lorenz

Posted on February 2, 2016 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Katherine Lorenz, President of the The Cynthia & George Mitchell Family Foundation and NCFP Fellow and board member, reflects on how philanthropy has brought together multiple generations of her family. Katherine shares how the Cook's Branch Conservancy in Piney Woods, TX promotes local and regional conservation ethics and demonstrates the resilience of nature in perpetuity… Read More
Voices from the Field

Can General Operating Support Become the New Normal?

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Jen Teunon

If every funder only pays for a specific program or a specific line item, an organization becomes fragmented and unstable. Without general operating support, an organization doesn’t have the money for staffing, rent, technology, training, or even the phone bill. And, without a strong infrastructure, programs that improve our communities can’t happen. … Read More

A Steadying Hand: The Critical Role of Non-family Board Members

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Susan Packard Orr

This special Passages Issue Brief written by NCFP Distinguished Fellow Susan Packard Orr describes the various skills, expertise, and perspectives that non-family board members can provide, as well as some of the common challenges for families seeking to add their first non-family board members, and tips for how to set clear expectations for this role… Read More

In Times of Growth: Planning for an Influx of Assets

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

An influx of assets is a powerful transition point in your philanthropy. With rising resources comes the budding potential to do more of what you’re already doing—or, perhaps, try something new. This Passages Issue Brief will help you plan now for growth tomorrow, and manage change if you’re in the midst of it today… Read More
Featured Article

Can’t Not Do: The Social Drive That Changes the World

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Paul Shoemaker

I can’t not do this. It’s not that I can do this, it’s that I can’t not. I don’t have time to not make an impact. I could not imagine not..." I don’t remember the first time I heard someone use one of these grammatically incorrect phrases. But I hear these statements consistently, to this day, from educated and literate people. I know you have heard of “can-do” people, they are eager and willing, we admire them and hope our children become like them when they grow up. But the regular heroes you will meet in this book go way beyond can-do, they can’t not do. … Read More

Can We Make Grants to a Non- 501(C)(3) Organization?

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Andrew Schulz

The short answer is, absolutely. Foundations are allowed to make grants to non-charities. They have to follow special procedures under Section 4945 that are called expenditure responsibility. The basic rule is that the fund have to be used for charitable purposes, not something else, but you can grant to 501(c)(4)s, 501(c)(6)s, and even for-profits, as long as you follow the… Read More

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