National Center for Family Philanthropy

Estate Planning As A Family: A Collaborative Approach

Posted on April 4, 2005 by David Gage, Ph. D.

The time has come to cast estate planning in a fresh light. For too long,parents and their advisors have conducted estate planning behind closed doors. Each year, billions of dollars of family assets pass from benefactors to inheritors but the process continues to be one of the most sensitive—and secretive—activities within families… Read More

Families In Flux: Guidelines for Participation in Your Family’s Philanthropy

Posted on October 4, 2004 by Deanne Stone

Family members marry, divorce, remarry, form domestic partnerships and, in many cases, move far away from the family home. With families growing ever more complex, varied, and far-flung, foundations and donor-advised funds need clear guidelines regarding who participates in their philanthropy and in what roles. This Passages report addresses changing family composition and circumstances and how philanthropic families may deal… Read More

The 990-PF in a Nutshell: What You Need to Know

Posted on August 15, 2004

What is the 990-PF and who needs to fill one out? The 990-PF is the tax return used for all private foundations filing under tax-exempt status, which inventories all of a foundation’s assets, investments, revenue, expenses, and charitable disbursements throughout the fiscal year. It also lists foundation officers, trustees, and the number of staff, itemizes its grants, and gives information… Read More

Growing to Give: Instilling Philanthropic Values in Teens and Preteens

Posted on June 28, 2004 by Darlene Siska

The teenage years can be the most tumultuous ones—particularly for parents! Parents may want their children to become charitable for any number of reasons: to prepare them to take formal leadership one day of the family’s foundation or other giving vehicle; to participate in philanthropy as a family activity; or to develop charitable natures as an antidote to the possibility… Read More

Family Governance: A Primer for Philanthropic Families

Posted on June 4, 2004 by Patricia Angus

This Passages Issue Brief focuses on the principles, practices, and policies of family governance. Typically, a family’s philanthropy, whether formal or less structured, is only one of a number of ways in which family members interact with one another. This article aims to help philanthropic families understand the theory and practice of effective family governance… Read More

Qualities of the Good Trustee

Posted on November 4, 2002 by John Nason

In ‘Foundation Trusteeship: Service in the Public Interest,’ John Nason revisited his exploration of the role of philanthropic governance that he began in his 1977 landmark book, ‘Trustees and the Future of Foundations.’ In his second volume, Nason offered a list of the ten qualities of a good trustee, provided here… Read More

Model for foundations with many eligible trustee candidates

Posted on October 30, 2002 by Elaine Perachio

The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund focuses its grant-making efforts on the greater Galveston, Texas, area. Board and family members reside in locations throughout the country. The Fund has developed an effective model for involving current and future generations of family members in the work of the foundation. … Read More

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