President's Message and Introduction of Profiles in Family Philanthropy

This fall, the National Center for Family Philanthropy celebrates the publication of Generations of Giving: Leadership and Continuity in Family Foundations, our study designed to better understand multi-generational philanthropy.  We also launch the educational initiative that features the stories and lessons from this important work. 

Principal researcher and author, Kelin Gersick, and his team have presented us with findings and insights that are truly remarkable.  An investment in this kind of work is neither quick nor inexpensive, but what we have learned and what we will continue to learn will enhance family giving for years and generations to come.  These stunning results encourage us to explore the potential value of other such research efforts, but they also cause me to reflect on how much and how we have learned about family giving.    

 My earliest understanding of family philanthropy was based on the anecdotes and lore of countless donors and family members who generously shared their stories with me.  From their tales of motivations and missions, joys and frustrations, and their candid appraisals of their missteps and accomplishments, I was able to draw themes and, often, lessons for other families.  I learned to appreciate what philanthropic families share and what makes each of them so very special.  I learned to treasure the value of the simply told, usually modestly offered, story and, more often than not, found a profound wisdom in each one. In fact, Kelin’s work was made possible because so many donors and representatives of family foundations were willing to participate in frank, intense, and sometimes multiple interviews.

With this issue of Family Giving News, we launch a new feature – one I have been looking forward to for some time: Profiles in Family Philanthropy.  Each month, a different donor or donor family will be highlighted.  Some of the stories we will write especially for this column and others we will adapt from annual reports, family histories, and donor legacy statements. 

We begin with one written especially for us by Robert Hull, former president of the Southeastern Council of Foundations and now a consultant and writer living in Florida.  It is the story of the Lupton family and those who saw the value of bottling the fountain drink known as Coca-Cola and the value of contributing to their community.  With the leadership of the Lupton family, trustees, and president Jack Murrah, the Lyndhurst Foundation continues to make an important difference in the lives of those in and around their hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

 We want to encourage those of you who have written a family story or a history of your family’s philanthropy to share it with us.  However formal or informal, long or short, we hope you will send it to us.  Some of you will tell the story of your family foundation, your donor advised fund, or maybe how you began your giving while building a family business.  We want them all!  While we will only be able to include a dozen or so each year in Family Giving News, we want to build a living archive of the stories of giving families.  Your story will add to the richness of that collection. Similarly, if you like the idea of creating a family philanthropic history, but you aren’t quite sure how to go about it, contact us.  We can tell you how others have gone about it and even make referrals to great resources. 

 The coming holidays are a time for families to be together and to tell stories.  Take time this Thanksgiving to remember the gratitude and generosity that led to your family’s philanthropy.  What greater legacy can you leave to those who will carry on your work – and to others who might be inspired by your efforts – than the telling of the moving, challenging, funny, aggravating, educational, loving story of your giving?

 Tell us how you enjoy this new feature and how we can make it even better.  We’ll look forward to telling you how you can continue to enjoy these and other stories on our upcoming online archive.  I sincerely thank the Lupton/Lyndhurst family and Bob Hull for their work on this profile.  On behalf of the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s Board and staff, I wish you a happy, family-filled Thanksgiving.  I hope you know how thankful we are for the stories you share with us and for your generous support of our work.

 Ginny

Virginia M. Esposito
President
National Center for Family Philanthropy

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