Strategic planning

Leading by Design: a Special Retreat for Family Foundation CEOs

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito, Gayle Williams, Jan Jaffe

The role of a family foundation CEO is unique, often bridging generations of family members, community leaders, staff, advisors and partners. Expectations can be challenging to meet and boundaries are sometimes vague and ever-changing. Success in this role requires a cadre of specialized leadership skills. This retreat will help you identify the roles essential to your position—and envision them with… Read More

Navigating Leadership Transitions in Family Philanthropy

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Virginia M. Esposito, Betsy Brill, Dean Phillips, Dinaz Mansuri, Patrick Troska

Every family philanthropy experiences the joy, the sadness, the complexity, and the energy of transitions. Moving toward new leadership in the family can be difficult, emotional, and sometimes frustrating. However, when it is done deliberately and thoughtfully, these times of transition can also be positive for all involved. … Read More

A Legacy Lives On: The Kaplan Family Foundation’s Successful Leadership Transition

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Dinaz Mansuri, Mollie Bunis

[Photo: Members of the next generation of the Kaplan family gather to discuss strategy.] Ask any family member and they are usually able to identify the current family leader. This is the person around whom everyone gathers; the person who takes responsibility for family networking, intervenes in family disputes, reminds others of the family’s history and generally serves as the… 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

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

Strategic Focus for Family Foundations

Posted on February 14, 2008 by Valerie Jacobs Hapke, Ashley Blanchard

Ashley Blanchard presents how family foundations can transition from a giving approach based on trustees' disparate interests, to a more focused and strategic approach based on common values and interests. Focusing on her own experience as a family foundation trustee, as well as the experience of other giving families that have made a transition to more strategic grantmaking… Read More

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