From the Archive: Pride of Place: Sustaining a Commitment to Geography

NCFP’s From the Archive series highlights resources from our Knowledge Center that have stood the test of time and continue to provide valuable guidance for the field. 

Many family foundations make the vast majority of their grants in a particular region, often the place where the family made its money. However, as family members move to other parts of the country or the world they may feel less connected to the source of the wealth, making it more challenging to engage the next generation. Moreover, place-based funders must contend with shifting their practices and priorities as the needs of the communities they serve change and finding a clear focus can be an obstacle.  

 “Many families commented that dispersion across the country and the world seems to exacerbate differences of personal interest and can mean less investment in the hometown.” 

Throughout 2017 and 2018 NCFP interviewed 50 place-based family foundations to understand how families were fostering a commitment to a place over generations while maintaining multigenerational participation and effective grantmaking. In Pride of Place, NCFP Founding President and Senior Fellow Ginny Esposito explores the advantages and drawbacks of place-based funding and why, ultimately, so many family foundations remain deeply committed to and rooted in place. Through her research, Esposito identified 10 traits of highly successful family funders including: 

• They have an enthusiastic learning agenda. 

• They plan and remain open to change. 

• They consider the viability and implications of perpetuity. 

Read the full publication to learn more about how place-based funders are navigating their work.