NCFP Blog

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Can’t Not Do: The Social Drive That Changes the World

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Paul Shoemaker

I can’t not do this. It’s not that I can do this, it’s that I can’t not. I don’t have time to not make an impact. I could not imagine not..." I don’t remember the first time I heard someone use one of these grammatically incorrect phrases. But I hear these statements consistently, to this day, from educated and literate people. I know you have heard of “can-do” people, they are eager and willing, we admire them and hope our children become like them when they grow up. But the regular heroes you will meet in this book go way beyond can-do, they can’t not do. … Read More
Voices from the Field

Expanding Your Comfort Zone: Managing Risk

Posted on September 24, 2015 by John Bare

As I sit here writing about risk, the date at the bottom of my laptop screen – September 11 – is a jarring reminder that risk analysis is both futile and indispensable. It’s futile if we use risk analysis to predict the future. Or come to believe that the act of reflection itself inoculates us against harm. … Read More
Voices from the Field

Admitting Failure: Learning from Mistakes in Philanthropy

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Bob Giloth

I was recently invited to speak about mistakes and learning in philanthropy at the Grants Managers Network's annual conference. My presentation argued that admitting failures contributes to high-quality implementation, innovation of new strategies and improved governance and transparency. Despite increasing philanthropic interest in mistakes and learning, many foundation staff still find it difficult to have conversations about mistakes… Read More
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Why is it Important to Have an Internal Mission That is Separate and Distinct from an External Mission?

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Julie Fisher Cummings, Linda Tracy, Doug Bitonti Stewart

This month we are delighted to feature a question recently asked in our May webinar, Balancing internal vs. external missions in family philanthropy. This in-depth conversation on successful strategies for thoughtfully defining, measuring, and tracking both internal and external missions in family foundation features Julie Fisher Cummings and Doug Bitonti Stewart from the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation and Linda Tracy from the Tracy Family Foundation… Read More
Voices from the Field

I Am Family Philanthropy: William Graustein

Posted on May 27, 2015 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Every day we see committed and generous families making positive impacts on the communities and issues they serve. We want to share their stories and are delighted to announce our new I Am Family Philanthropy video series. In this month's video, we are delighted to share the reflections of William Graustein of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund. … Read More
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How Does the Role of a Family Foundation Chair Differ from That of Other Non-Profit Entities?

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito, Alice Buhl, Kelly Sweeney McShane

This month we are delighted to feature a question recently asked in our April webinar, The critical role of the board chair in family philanthropy. This wide-ranging conversation on the critical role of the board chair in family philanthropy featured international family foundation experts Virginia Esposito and Alice Buhl along with two experienced and thoughtful family foundation leaders… Read More

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