Staffing and board-staff relationships

Family Staff Peer Network: Managing Your Family Foundation

Posted on July 15, 2025

Among the many topics that family staff members grapple with, foundation operations and board management are often top of mind. Peer network members helped to identify the primary topics that they are navigating, including: Professionalizing the foundation Navigating family dynamics Staffing the foundation Pros and cons of having a family office together with a family foundation Join the discussion with… Read More

Family Staff Peer Network: Benefits and Challenges of Staffing Your Family’s Foundation

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Dan Estes, Aimee Boone Cunningham

Serving in a lead staff role at your family’s foundation comes with meaningful responsibilities and unique challenges. While each family is different, having conversations with others who are related to the donor family and also serve in a staff capacity at a family philanthropy can be rewarding and refreshing. To facilitate these conversations, NCFP is re-launching the Family Staff Peer… Read More

Evolving Your Family Philanthropy: Staffing Structures

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Ryan Brady, Aimee Boone Cunningham, Megan Costigan

Which staffing models will work best for your family philanthropy? How can the right structure enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of your organization?  We will examine different approaches, including hiring dedicated philanthropic professionals and family members, and utilizing external advisors and consultants. You will learn how to align staffing strategies with your philanthropic goals, create a collaborative work environment, and… Read More

Non-Family Staff Peer Network: Reflecting Back and Looking Forward

Posted on December 20, 2023

Join your colleagues to discuss your 2024 aspirations as non-family staff leaders. There will be opportunities to share your philanthropy’s successes in 2023 and the goals and priorities you have for the new year. In addition to a large group discussion, this meeting will include small group breakouts where you can share resources, tools, and approaches to support your work… Read More

Non-family Staff Peer Network: Generational Transition at the Table

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Ellie Frey Zagel

Three generations at a family philanthropy
Around each board table, there is a need to plan for the next generation and to nurture their leadership and engagement. What conditions make for successful next gen engagement and transitions? How do you empower adult family members to be involved, while also recognizing they are at a particularly busy stage of life? Learn from Ellie Frey Zagel, a next… Read More

Non-family Staff Peer Network: Managing Up for Trust, Relationships, and Impact, Part 2

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Chris Steed, Christy Uchida

Non-family staff at a board meeting
How do you manage tension and differences with your board, while building trust and maintaining important relationships? How do you reconcile doing the work and staying true to yourself? This session will offer a space for lightly facilitated small group conversations with your peers on how to work closely with your board while navigating the complex dynamics that sometime arise… Read More

Conflict of Interest Policy (George Family Foundation)

Posted on July 22, 2022 by George Family Foundation

The George Family Foundation (GFF) is committed to avoiding transactions or arrangements that give rise to a conflict of interest, potential conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest. POTENTIAL Personal-Gain CONFLICTS No less than once a year, GFF Directors and staff will review a list of all GFF grantees, vendors, and other business partners — disclosing… Read More

Non-Family Staff Peer Network: The Impact of the Great Reshuffle on Work Culture

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Denise Porche, Kim Wright

In this time of shift and transition, how is the great reshuffle and resignation impacting your work culture? Network co-chairs Denise Porche and Kim Wright and your non-family senior staff colleagues will connect in small groups around two self-selected topics including: professional development to grow and retain staff, succession planning, transitions, and culture. If there is a specific topic that you’d like… Read More

Staffing for Success

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Frank Baiocchi, Terrill North, Kim Van Horn, Alison Fass, Katherine Jacobs

Professional staff is frequently an essential element of an effective family philanthropy effort; however, it can be a difficult construct to navigate. What are the skills and expertise required for staff members to be successful in family philanthropy? How can philanthropic families prepare to hire the right talent? What does the hiring process entail and what are some common missteps… Read More

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