NCFP Blog

Network News

February 2021: News and Notes from NCFP’s Friends of the Family Network

Posted on February 2, 2021

Friends Focus highlights updates from members of our Friends of the Family network and their work. This month features updates from the Bainum Family Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, General Service Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Russell Family Foundation, and Surdna Foundation. Are you a current Friend or Leadership Circle member of NCFP with an update or good news about your foundation… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Family Philanthropy Speaks: A Conversation with Jeff and Tricia Raikes

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Jeff and Tricia Raikes, Nicholas A. Tedesco

Jeff and Tricia Raikes, founders of the Seattle-based Raikes Foundation, are using their platform to push other donors to embrace and advance racial justice. In this Family Philanthropy Speaks conversation, Jeff and Tricia join Nick Tedesco to discuss how they have changed practices and acknowledged privilege throughout their donor journey. Jeff shares the value of diversifying their network, which opens… Read More
Voices from the Field

Spending down? Don’t forget your knowledge!

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Ashleigh Halverstadt

This article was originally published by Glasspockets by Candid and is re-posted here with permission. Ashleigh Halverstadt is the former senior evaluation and learning officer of the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, a spend-down foundation that concluded operations in December 2020. In this role, she worked with program staff and grantees to design and implement evaluation strategies, forged partnerships with… Read More
Voices from the Field

Foundations Respond to Crisis: A Must-Read Research Series from CEP

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

This article was originally published by The Center for Effective Philanthropy and is re-posted here with permission. In early spring, as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, foundations in the U.S. began to shift resources and practices. Some funders, nonprofits, and others in the field called for fundamental changes in how funders approach their work — including upping the provision of long-term,… Read More
Voices from the Field

Breaking From Philanthropy Norms: An Inside Look At Relational Reparations (Part 1)

Posted on January 19, 2021 by June L. Wilson, LeAnne Moss, Candace Tkachuck

This article was originally published by Giving Compass and is re-posted here with permission. What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m talking about is a national reckoning that would lead to spiritual renewal. Reparations would mean the end of scarfing hot dogs on… Read More
Voices from the Field

Philanthropy as Democracy Enhancement: Big Philanthropy’s Role as Discovery for Social Problem-Solving

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Mohit Mookim, Rob Reich, Nadia Roumani, Ayushi Vig

Photo by Element5 Digital from Pexels The United States is facing unprecedented levels of inequality. Nuanced critiques of donor-driven endowments permeate the media coverage of philanthropy, tinging it with skepticism and mistrust. As a donor, you want to do good—you want to have a positive impact by playing your part in advancing our society. Yet you may feel confused about… Read More
Network News

January 2021: News and Notes from NCFP’s Friends of the Family Network

Posted on January 12, 2021

Friends Focus highlights updates from members of our Friends of the Family network and their work. This month features updates from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, Frist Foundation, Grunin Foundation, McKnight Foundation, and Walton Foundation. Are you a current Friend or Leadership Circle member of NCFP with an update or good news about your foundation that you would like to… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Family Philanthropy Speaks: A Conversation with Carrie Avery

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Carrie Avery, Nicholas A. Tedesco

Carrie Avery, chair of the Durfee Foundation board and former chair of the NCFP board, never imagined she would be leading her family’s philanthropy. As a member of the Steering Committee at the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, she also couldn’t have imagined how important the group’s work would become during the recent pandemic and movement for racial justice. In this Family… Read More
Voices from the Field

Reflections from the Spend Down of the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation

Posted on January 7, 2021 by S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, Lauren B. Dachs

Courtesy of Jonathan Petersson from Pexels Excerpted from Spending down: Laurie Dachs answers questions for family philanthropies What was the process that your foundation went through to make the decision to spend down? What drove the decision? Our Board of Directors held multiple conversations across a year, 2008, sparked by my dad as founder and board chair. At that time,… Read More

We’re here to equip you with the tools you need to make a meaningful impact. Contact NCFP for support.

Get in Touch

Keep up with trends in family philanthropy. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Signup

Gain access to personalized support and a network of peers. Join our community!

Join Now