Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Change Starts from the Inside: A Values-Aligned Leadership Transition

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Donna Dalton

Woman in business attire opening a door
As the Mortenson Family Foundation further defined its mission, Foundation Executive Director Donna Dalton considered how to lead the organization in a way that centered community. Ultimately, Donna made a values-aligned decision to make space for a new leader who was more proximate to the Foundation’s mission and poised to usher the organization into a new era. So many individuals,… Read More
Network News

April 2023: News and Notes from NCFP’s Members and Partners

Posted on April 4, 2023

Network News highlights updates from NCFP’s members and network partners. Current NCFP members or network partners are encouraged to email us with news they would like shared with the community.  Packard Foundation Names Marielena Hincapié to its Board of Trustees Hincapié is a nationally respected leader and legal and political strategist in the justice movement, and a leading voice in… Read More
From NCFP

Navigating Climate Change Philanthropy 

Posted on March 16, 2023

Youth march in support of the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act . Credit Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition
Funding to combat climate change can feel overwhelming. Tony Macklin outlines pathways that families can take to having an impact on climate through learnings from the “Climate and Family Philanthropy” session at the 2022 National Forum on Family Philanthropy.  In multiple polls, most Americans say they believe in the risks of climate change and think our society needs to do… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

An Easy Step to Improve Transparency and Access in Philanthropy

Posted on March 7, 2023 by David Weitnauer, Rachel Sprecher

Tip of an iceberg
Grantmakers can have a reputation for having opaque guidelines and limited access to information. David Weitnauer and his colleague, Rachel Sprecher, explain how The Dobbs Foundation took another step towards transparency and accessibility with their Open Information Sessions. Black Box. Enigma. Total mystery. No, these are not a reference to Thursday’s Wordle or how ChatGPT works. They’re regrettable tropes we’ve… Read More
Network News

March 2023: News and Notes from NCFP’s Members and Partners

Posted on March 2, 2023

Network News highlights updates from NCFP’s members and network partners. Current NCFP members or network partners are encouraged to email us with news they would like shared with the community.  Fleishhacker Foundation’s Eureka Fellowship Program Awardees Announced Twelve Bay Area artists were named as the newest recipients of the Fleishhacker Foundation’s Eureka Fellowship Program. Awarded four at a time over… Read More
From NCFP

Avoiding Avoidance: Managing Healthy Family Conflict

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Tony Macklin

A man stops dominos falling with his hand.
Avoiding conflict can often seem like the easiest path to take, but if families are to truly practice effective family philanthropy they must deal with conflict head on. Tony Macklin outlines how families can better approach this issue. Disagreements between two or more people are about what they want to happen next. The participants can typically resolve the dispute without… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Equitable Philanthropy Case Study: The 1954 Project Approach

Posted on February 17, 2023 by The Bridgespan Group

This piece was originally published by The Bridgespan Group and is re-posted with permission. Founded by philanthropists Liz and Don Thompson of the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (The Cafe) to upend the chronic underinvestment in Black-led organizations, The 1954 Project seeks to radically redesign how philanthropy connects with Black leaders in education. The Thompsons note, ” The 1954 Project… Read More
Network News

February 2023: News and Notes from NCFP’s Members and Partners

Posted on February 2, 2023

Snowy mountain
Network News highlights updates from NCFP’s members and network partners. Current NCFP members or network partners are encouraged to email us with news they would like shared with the community.  Stephanie Ellis-Smith Shares Expertise on Nike Anani’s Podcast NCFP partner, board member, and CEO of Phila Engaged Giving joins Nike Anani to discuss why donors’ relationships with wealth are critical… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Coming Together for the Greater Good

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Katie Leh

Sam Downes (left), Andrus Family Philanthropy Program Committee Member, and Kelly Nowlin (right), former Surdna Foundation trustee, speaking about partnering across generations at the 2022 National Forum on Family Philanthropy in San Francisco
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Concinnity, an annual newsletter for the Andrus Family Philanthropy Program, and reposted here with permission. In the more than 20 years since the Andrus Family Philanthropy Program was created, the program and the Andrus Family Fund have grown and evolved. Learn about the ways that the program serves as a model of… Read More