Lessons from Family Philanthropy: The Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Launching a family foundation is often the expression of donors’ desires to establish a lasting legacy and to instill in future generations the importance of giving. But family foundations face certain common pitfalls as well. They may initially unite family members through a shared sense of mission that could become less shared as the family grows and diffuses over time… Read More

From Words to Action at Bainum Family Foundation

Posted on April 16, 2021 by PEAK Grantmaking

The principles guiding one grantmaker’s successful efforts to tie practices to values, including practical methods for getting staff involved in the process and gathering the most relevant insight into your practices. Like many family foundations, the Bainum Family Foundation has been guided implicitly, from the start, by the life story and core beliefs of its founder. To make the leap… Read More

Community-Centric Youth Philanthropy: A Case Study of Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s Youth for Community Improvement Program

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Sheryl Seller, The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy

This case study aims to demonstrate how youth philanthropy can be an avenue to democratize philanthropy while it simultaneously benefits young people. We invite readers to explore Youth for Community Improvement, a youth grantmaking program at Greater Worcester Community Foundation, from the vantage points of young people who participate in the program and their adult supporters… Read More

Participatory Grantmaking Case Study: Durfee Foundation

Posted on August 25, 2020 by GrantCraft

Questions addressed include: What are your grantmaking and/or strategic priorities (in terms of geographic focus, issue, etc.)? Who decides the grantmaking priorities? The overall strategy for the fund? What’s the process by which these decisions are made? Is the participatory decision-making process the same for all grant types and sizes? If not, why? Who comprises your grantmaking selection panel(s)? How… Read More

Leading with Love and Gratitude: The David Rockefeller Fund at 30

Posted on August 4, 2020 by David Rockefeller Fund

The David Rockefeller Fund charts its history with a fascinating look into the evolution of the family and its philanthropy. The Fund’s history reflects the fact that change is inevitable and necessary, but must be rooted in the values and legacy of the family. The family’s recognition of this positions them for long-term success, encouraging them to remain flexible and… Read More

Realigning a Legacy: Foundation Refocuses a Long-standing Commitment to Faith-Based Education

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Amy Soper

In 2015, the Bainum Family Foundation introduced a new strategy and shifted its focus from older children and teens to early childhood (ages 0 to 8), acknowledging the need to reach children earlier with quality learning and vital wrap-around supports to give them a stronger foundation and better chance of success throughout life. The foundation’s priorities also shifted from an… Read More