Engaging Youth Peer Network: Talking about Money with Teen Friends with Iris Brilliant

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Iris Brilliant

Talking about money with friends is difficult, and yet the story of your foundation, its origin, and assets for grantmaking is all related to a money journey.  Join Iris Brilliant to hear her story as a grantmaker, partner, donor advisor, activist, and coach. Iris’s life mission is to support people with wealth to move money to social justice, and to… Read More

Breaking Up: Divorce in Family Philanthropy

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

This Passages guide is part one of a two-part series on divorce and division in family philanthropy, featuring tips for what board and staff members can do to prepare and cope. This first part includes case studies on family foundations who have navigated divorce, questions to consider when developing board policies, and perspectives on the implications of divorce on assets… Read More

Emerging Family Leaders in Philanthropy: Navigating Cross-Generational Relationships and Cultivating Personal Leadership

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Ashley Duchossois Joyce, Ellie Frey Zagel

It can be challenging to be a leader in a family philanthropy context, particularly as a member of the next generation. How can you share your skills, expertise, or experience to add value to your family’s work and gain the trust of other board members? Join Ashley Joyce and Ellie Frey Zagel for a discussion about building leadership within family… Read More

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

Engaging Youth Peer Network: Impact, Leadership and Diversity in Philanthropy, a Conversation with Carmela Castellano-Garcia

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Carmela Castellano-Garcia

This special interactive event is for young grantmakers from your families (approximately ages 8-21). Two philanthropic teens will facilitate a conversation with Castellano Family Foundation President Carmela Castellano-Garcia. Hear about the foundation and its impact as well as Carmela’s own leadership journey. Carmela’s role includes promoting the importance of diversity in philanthropy and of investing in the Latino community. Bring… Read More

Making Space for Youth Leadership

Posted on December 9, 2021 by Charlotte Cottier, Tracy Wasden, Marlene Corrado, Alexis Marion

There are many different strategies and formats to engage the next generation of youth in family philanthropy. Yet in all cases, younger members of the next generation need opportunities to take leadership roles that help them learn new skills, gain relevant experience in philanthropy, and hone their own practices and interests before taking on leadership as adults. Join us for… Read More

Five Levers of Legacy

Posted on December 9, 2021 by Vasser Seydel, Janice Simsohn Shaw, Sapphira Goradia

multigenerational family
Historically, legacy in family philanthropy has been considered from a retrospective point of view—as the culmination of the impact of a family and its philanthropic efforts. However, a new generation of leaders is redefining legacy to be formative, intentional, and continually refined. Join us for a conversation on the five levers of legacy and how to be more intentional about… Read More

Complexities of the Collective: Balancing Individual and Family Interests

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Melinda Oakes, Andy Klingenstein, Wendy R. Ulaszek, Ph.D., Ashley Blanchard

stones balancing; balance
For many, family philanthropy presents an opportunity to create a shared experience, unifying the family by working together toward a lasting legacy of impact. Family philanthropy can also give participants an opportunity to explore and cultivate their personal philanthropic passions. Yet there is an inherent tension between these two goals, and many families struggle with how to address it—especially as… Read More

Reflecting on Your Origin Story: Understanding Wealth, Legacy, and Equity

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Holley Fowler Martens, David Roswell, Katherine Lorenz

old photographs on table; genealogy; family tree
The criticism of wealth is longstanding and brings to the fore a conversation on justice that is important to reflect upon in the pursuit of effective family philanthropy. Though necessary, this type of reflection often raises a number of difficult questions that require philanthropic families to interrogate their history and reconcile the actions of their ancestors. Join us for a… Read More

Hate-Free Family Philanthropy

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Eric Jolly, Robert (Bob) Fockler, Abbas Barzegar

Many donors are having conversations about their approach to anti-hate philanthropy. Attendees at this small group dialogue will gather for a grounding discussion about hate-free philanthropy with Abbas Barzegar from Horizon Forum.  Then, learn from two community foundation leaders, Robert M. Fockler, (Community Foundation of Greater Memphis) and Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D., (Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation), about their foundations’ journey,… Read More