Engaging young adults and the next generation

Engaging Youth Peer Network: Teen Philanthropy—Models and Strategies for Ages 13-18

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Caryn Conway, Cadence Miller, Neil Gobioff

Young People Learning About Philanthropy
What are models to teach teens (grades 9-12) the foundations of philanthropy and lead them through the grantmaking process? Learn more about the Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy program and how they engage high school youth in the surrounding communities in an experiential leadership and teen philanthropy program. Caryn Conway – an instructor for the Youth in Philanthropy program… Read More

Emerging Family Leaders Peer Network: Peer Connection and Community-Building

Posted on May 3, 2023

It can be challenging to be a leader in a family philanthropy context, particularly as a member of the next generation. How do you navigate the family dynamics of the multiple generations? How do you develop the skills and connections to be seen as a leader in your family’s philanthropic efforts? How do you have an influence on the strategic direction… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Cricket Island Foundation

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Ade Adeniji

What It Looks Like When a Multigenerational Family Foundation Makes All Voices Equal Therma-Tru Corporation was a family-owned business whose bread and butter was manufacturing exterior and entry doors. The Midwestern company traces its roots to the 1960s, when David Welles, a retired Owens Corning executive, purchased a bankrupt building supply company in Toledo, Ohio. The company eventually patented its… Read More

Executive Summary—Philanthropy in Complex, Multi-Generational Families: Balancing Individual Preference with Collective Purpose

Posted on April 12, 2023

fall leaves
Researchers from Lansberg Gersick Advisors consider how the family foundation’s design and operation is informed by—and informs—the family’s philanthropic activities that take place outside of it. The purpose of this study is to help families understand how they can design their family philanthropy to best meet their goals.    The study’s standout finding was that the creation of a robust family… Read More

Full Report—Philanthropy in Complex, Multi-Generational Families: Balancing Individual Preference with Collective Purpose

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Wendy R. Ulaszek, Ph.D., Ashley Blanchard

Tree in field
Researchers from Lansberg Gersick Advisors hypothesized that families’ abilities to work together effectively in their philanthropy is dependent not only on the way they design their collective family foundation, but also in how they structure the philanthropic activities outside of it. From 2018-2022, they conducted surveys and interviews and found that as families evolve, they face common dilemmas regarding their… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Woodcock Foundation

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Ade Adeniji

The Evolution of the Woodcock Foundation: A Progressive Family Funder Branches Out Polly W. Guth was an heir to one of the founders of the pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. She was also an active philanthropist, heavily involved in groups like Planned Parenthood of New York City and Asia Society. In 1996, Guth founded the Woodcock Foundation, which has awarded over… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Pérez Family

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Ade Adeniji

“Miami Is Our City.” How Two Generations of the Billionaire Pérez Family Give Back in the late 1970s, Argentina-raised Jorge Pérez linked up with Stephen Ross and his affiliated Related Companies, the developer of New York City’s Hudson Yards. The Related Group, founded in 1979, began with a focus on building affordable housing before branching out to high-end condos. And… Read More

Emerging Family Leaders Peer Network: Roles and Boundaries: Beyond the Natural Family Hierarchy

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Rebecca Meyer, Bryn Monahan

A group of family leaders family philanthropy
Great leaders have many skills. Two of those skills are maintaining healthy boundaries and clearly defining roles. For next-generation leaders, these can be difficult to develop because the natural family hierarchy often dominates the way roles and boundaries are defined. In this session, Bryn Monahan and Rebecca Meyer from Relative Solutions will introduce the Family Intelligence Quotient (FQ) as a… Read More

Engaging Youth Peer Network: Getting Started

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Cadence Miller, Neil Gobioff

A group of young people ready to engage in family philanthropy
If you’re just getting started on engaging youth (ages 8-21) in your philanthropy, this event is for you.  We will spend time discussing how to get started engaging youth across ages, family sizes, geography and more. Join us to consider questions like: Should our youth engagement start slowly with service projects or values-based activities? Should my family create a formal… Read More