Sustainable Investing as Part of a 10-Year Spend Down at The John Merck Fund

Posted on August 7, 2023 by The John Merck Fund

When The John Merck Fund embarked on a 10-year spendout of its assets in 2012, the board aimed to maximize its grantmaking clout across four core program areas. The board also set another challenge: to finance the effort as much as possible with sustainable investments consistent with the Fund's philanthropic mission—and, what’s more, to do this without sacrificing market-rate returns… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: The Roundhouse Foundation

Posted on May 23, 2023 by Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy

Four Practices Roundhouse Foundation Has Embraced to Achieve Its Goals Creative placemaking. Roundhouse Foundation strongly believes in investing in its local creative economy. This includes standing up and running its own artist residency, Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture, on a 260-acre working ranch. Meeting communities where they are. Rural organizations are often forced to travel to city-based… Read More

Effective Family Philanthropy: Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Ade Adeniji

Five Practices the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation Has Embraced to Achieve Its Goals Place-based grantmaking. RPDFF makes grants in cities with personal connection to the family —Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Tacoma, Washington. Staff keep their ears to the ground including Executive Director Shawn Escoffery, who personally shows up to local events in L.A., not as a staffer… Read More

Understanding Purpose Trusts: Advantages and Disadvantages

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Zoe Schlag, Susan Mac Cormac

Purpose trusts have been around for centuries. However, most practitioners are far more familiar with charitable trusts. Enforced in the UK by chancery courts since the 15th Century and adopted unto the US into the Uniform Trust Code in 2000, charitable purpose trusts have been established to advance identified charitable purposes (instead of specific beneficiaries) but are limited in time,… Read More

International Grantmaking: Navigating the Challenges of Legal and Regulatory Barriers

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Jessie Krafft

Donors who give to projects and partners outside of the United States have the opportunity to make real and lasting impacts in communities. But when foundations want to make grants to non-501(c)(3)s, the rules governing cross-border funding can be complex. Join this webinar to learn how to support foreign grantees while managing risk, complying with the regulations governing this work,… Read More