NCFP Blog

Featured Article

Sticking the Landing: a Growing Trend Toward Spending Out

Posted on December 3, 2015 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

For much of the 20th century, the vast majority of U.S. foundations operated under the assumption that they would be in business forever. However, as a new generation of family philanthropists take over a growing number are deciding that they would rather spend down their assets during a set period of time than manage their endowments in perpetuity… Read More
Ask NCFP

How can we prepare for the death of our founder or donor?

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Suzanne Hammer

In this month's edition of "Ask the Center," we are pleased to share a guest post from Suzanne Hammer, founder of Hammer and Associates, discussing the recent passing of her father: "In the midst of a loved one dying, there are many decisions to be made. There’s paperwork and Power of Attorneys and property. There’s money. There’s final wishes and figuring out what do with all the “stuff.” In my experience, the stress of it all sometimes divided us more than it brought us together. We all wanted the best for our dad, and we each had strong opinions on what “the best” meant to us." … Read More
Featured Article

Bringing Families Together: Reflections from the National Forum on Family Philanthropy

Posted on October 29, 2015 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Lisa Parker remembers the first time she met someone like her. Parker, now the third-generation president of the Lawrence Welk Family Foundation, had grown up in a prominent philanthropic family. But it wasn’t until middle school — when she learned that one of her classmates was the daughter of a family that ran a California family foundation — that she discovered that she is part of a larger tribe. “We looked at each other and thought, ‘We’re the same aliens,’” Parker recalled earlier this month from the main stage of the National Forum on Family Philanthropy in Seattle… Read More
Ask NCFP

What are some points we should consider as a family foundation seeking a non-family board member?

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Susan Packard Orr

In this month's Ask the Center, we feature an excerpt from the newest Passages Issue Brief, "A steadying hand: The critical role of non-family board members," written by NCFP Distinguished Fellow Susan Packard Orr. This special PASSAGES provides insight on the various skills, expertise, and perspectives that a non-family board member can provide, as well as the common challenges for families seeking their first non-family board member, and tips for setting clear expectations for this role… Read More
From NCFP

Grace, Gratitude and Generosity

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito

Ginny Esposito
One of my favorite NCFP publication titles, Grace, Gratitude and Generosity, was used for our Faith and Family Philanthropy journal more than a dozen years ago. When we used it, inspired by one of the Journal’s authors, I felt it had meaning far beyond that one publication; I still do today… Read More
Featured Article

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

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