Management and staffing policies are at the heart of good practice for many family philanthropies. Included here are consultant agreements, employee handbooks, internship program descriptions, personnel policies, and polices on and polices on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), record retention, recruitment, reimbursement, personnel evaluation, and more.
Visit the policy central homepage for details on our disclaimer and on submitting your own policy.
Sample Policies
Artificial Intelligence and Technology Policies
- Artificial Intelligence Usage Policy (Dyson Foundation, 2024)
- Managed IT Service Provider RFP (Frey Foundation, 2023)
- Technology Replacement and Purchase Guide (Frey Foundation, 2023)
- Technology Implementation Blog (Foundant Technologies, 2018)
Audit Request for Proposals
Benefits and Leave Policies (see also, “Employee Handbooks”, below)
- Benefits and Leave Policies (Weissberg Foundation, 2024)
- Wellness Leave Policy (Anonymous Foundation, 2024)
- Parental Leave Policy (Chicago Community Trust, 2020)
- Bereavement and Grief Leave (Bush Foundation, 2015)
CEO and Staff Performance Review and Assessment
- Employee Performance Assessment (Anonymous Foundation, 2023)
- President Performance Evaluation (Frey Foundation, 2023)
- Staff Pre-Evaluation Worksheet (Frey Foundation, 2023)
- Staff Performance Evaluation (Frey Foundation, 2023)
- Performance Review Guidelines (Anonymous Foundation, 2023)
- Staff Feedback Form (Anonymous Foundation, 2023)
- Employee Self-Assessment (Panta Rhea Foundation, 2023)
- Executive Director Performance Review (Glenn Foundation, 2020)
- Sample CEO Performance Reviews (NCFP, 2014)
- Employee Evaluation Form (Peace and Security Funders Group, 2014)
- Executive Director Evaluation Form (Blue Avocado, 2011)
- CEO Performance Review (Anonymous Foundation)
Compensation Policy
Community Events Attendance Policy
Consultant Agreements, Interviews, and Requests for Qualifications
- Request for Qualifications (David Rockefeller Fund, 2023)
- Interview Questions for Anti Racism Consultant (Surdna Foundation, 2021)
- Steps for Success Engaging a Consultant (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2020)
- Hiring a Communications Consultant (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2018)
- Hiring a Strategic Planning Consultant (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2018)
- Working with Consultants: Frequently Asked Questions (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2020)
- Family Foundation Life Cycle (GMA Foundations, 2015)
- Request for Proposal for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Facilitation & Planning (San Antonio Area Foundation, 2016)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies and Statements
- DEI Statement (Specialty Family Foundation, 2024)
- DEI Principles (William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, 2021)
- DEI Statement (Doris Duke Foundation, 2021)
- Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Bainum Family Foundation, 2021)
- DEI Commitment Statement (Gates Foundation, 2021)
- DEI Policy (Wege Foundation, 2017)
- Commitment to Diversity Statement (The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 2017)
- Board Statement on Racial Equity (HRK Foundation, 2017)
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy (Wege Foundation, 2017)
- DEI Vision and Strategies (Collins Foundation, 2016)
Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
- Disaster Plan (Dyson Foundation, 2022)
- Emergency Staff Back Up and Succession Plan (Anonymous Foundation)
Employee Handbook and Personnel Policies
- Employee Handbook (Anonymous Foundation, 2023)
- Personnel Policies (Anonymous Foundation, 2023)
- Employee Handbook (R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation, 2022)
- Personnel Policies (The Wallace Foundation, 2014)
- Employee Handbook (Hill-Snowdon, 2011)
- Employee Conduct (Heising-Simons Foundation, 2023)
Reimbursement Policies
- Expense Reimbursement Policy for a Private Foundation (Blazek and Vetterling, 2023)
- Expense Reimbursement Policy Including Tickets for Events (Anonymous Foundation)
- Expense Reimbursement Policy (Anonymous Foundation, 2023)
- Can a Foundation Pay for Spouse or Other Family Members’ Travel to Board Meetings? (John A Edie and Council on Foundations, 2002)
- Reimbursement for Attendance by Trustees and Members (Nord Family Foundation, 2003)
- Reimbursement for Attendance at Foundation Events by Children (Nord Family Foundation, 2003)
- Petty Cash Reimbursement (Brinson Foundation, 2023)
Internship Programs
- Internship Program (Mayberg Family Foundation, 2019)
- Internship Position Description (Merck Family Fund, 2003)
Meeting and Event Space Policies
Record Retention Policies
- Records Retention Policy (Anonymous Foundation, 2023)
- Record Retention Policy (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2020)
- Records Retention Policy (Brinson Foundation, 2016)
- Document Retention Policy (Sam L. Cohen Foundation, 2009)
Sabbatical Policies
- Sabbatical Leave (Morgan Family Foundation, 2023)
- Sabbatical Policy (Hill-Snowdon Foundation, 2023)
- Sabbatical Policy (Peace and Security Funders Group, 2023)
- Sabbatical Leave Policy (Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation, 2022)
- Sabbatical Policy (Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, 2010)
Social Media Policies
- Social Media Policy (Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, 2023)
- Social Media Policy (Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, 2016)
- Social Media Policy Example (Anonymous Foundation, 2024)
Staff Selection and Recruitment Guidelines
Strategic Lifespan: Strategies and Lessons for Limited Life Foundations
- Spend Down Timeline (Kolibri Foundation, 2017-2027)
- Master Closing Plan and Timeline (Eckerd Family Foundation, 2013)
- Talent Development Workbook (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2019)
- Spend Down Timeline (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2019)
- Organizational Norms: Activating the Values (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2018)
- Transition Assistance Policy (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2018)
- Operational Sunset Timeline (Orfalea Foundation)
- Sunsetting Task Checklist (Pierce Family Foundation, 2023)
Terms of Use Policy
Educational Assistance and Professional Development Policies
- Staff Workshop Survey Draft (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation)
- Career Development Fund Application (S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, 2019)
- Educational Assistance Policy (Brinson Foundation, 2023)
- Professional Development Reimbursement Policy (Rasmuson Foundation, 2024)
- Tuition Assistance Reimbursement Policy (Rasmuson Foundation, 2024)
- Tuition Reimbursement Policy (Northwest Area Foundation, 2021)
- Tuition Reimbursement Agreement (Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, 2016)
- Tuition Reimbursement Program (Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, 2016)
Vendor Selection Guidelines
Whistleblower Policies
- Whistleblower Procedures (McKnight Foundation, 2023)
- Whistleblower Policy (Heising-Simons Foundation, 2023)
- Whistleblower Policy (Segal Family Foundation, 2023)
- Whistleblower Policy: Reporting of Financial Improprieties (William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, 2013)
- Whistleblower Policy (Annenberg Foundation)