Travel Entertainment Policies and Reimbursement Form (MRBF, 2011)
Posted on January 4, 2011 by Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
A travel entertainment policies and reimbursement form document from the MRBF… Read More
Grantmaking Strategy and Evaluation
The Power of Mission Investing: One Family’s Story
Posted on November 18, 2010 by Lisa Hagerman, Richard Woo
As a mid-sized family foundation founded by the creator of the Russell 5000 index, the Russell Family Foundation in Gig Harbor, Washington offers a compelling portrait of the power of mission investing to achieve a funder. … Read More
Family Giving Beyond Borders for Long-Term Results
Posted on October 14, 2010 by Karen Keating Ansara, Rob Buchanan
How can a family foundation or donor advised fund maintain the long-term focus - and patience - needed to achieve real results in international philanthropy? How can families just getting started in international philanthropy make the most difference, even with small grants, and what are the rules and regulations guiding this work?… Read More
The Power to Produce Wonders: The Value of Family in Philanthropy
Posted on September 24, 2010 by Virginia M. Esposito
Little is known about the value private family philanthropy represents in our society and the essential role it plays in our democracy. This special report, developed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of NCFP, provides an overview of the value of family involvement in philanthropy… Read More
A Guide to Actionable Measurement
Posted on January 30, 2010
This guide provides a basis for a common understanding of results measurement at the Gates Foundation. The guide uses the term ‘measurement’ to refer to indicator monitoring, evaluation, as well as long-term impact tracking, and is intended to inform choices about measurement within funder strategies… Read More
Logic Models: Not Just for Big Foundations Anymore
Posted on January 4, 2010 by Erica V. Ekwurzel
Logic modeling is popular with large foundations, but has not been embraced by many of the smaller ones. One reason is that foundations with few or no staff fear that producing one is complicated and time consuming. It doesn’t have to be. And it can be a crucial tool for small asset foundations looking to make sustained impact, as explained… Read More
Family Foundations as Agents of Change
Posted on September 4, 2009 by Jeffrey M. Glebocki, Joann Ricci
We often hear media reports on the contributions and impact of super-sized grants and mega-foundations. But data and experience tells us it’s the presence and consistency of small- and medium-sized family foundations that provide much of the fuel for nonprofit organizations in our communities. Family foundations are uniquely positioned to serve as leaders in community problem-solving. Because their board members… Read More
Families Step Up to Meet Economic Crisis
Posted on September 4, 2009 by Joseph Foote
The recession that began in 2008 caused philanthropic assets for most families to decline sharply. Program plans for 2009 and 2010 were disrupted, forcing many philanthropic families to cancel new initiatives, respond to pleas from longstanding grantees about cash shortfalls, and swing rapidly toward support of basic human needs. Families who operate foundations, donor-advised funds, and other formal giving vehicles… Read More
Logic Models: How They Can Increase Your Impact
Posted on April 2, 2009 by Janet Harman, Kristin Brewer
Logic modeling has been embraced by some large foundations, but has not been as popular with smaller ones because the process may seem overly complicated. The KDK-Harman Foundation, a $20 million family foundation in Austin, Texas, believes use of logic models—a systematic, visual way to present a plan with its underlying assumptions and theoretical framework—is even more crucial for small foundations seeking to make sustained impact… Read More
Building Trust to Promote Community Collaboration
Posted on March 12, 2009 by Dave Joseph, Elizabeth Jordan
Problems in a community can be hard to solve when the people involved don’t communicate with each other because of their conflicting values across religious, cultural, political, social and other divides. … Read More