NCFP Blog

Voices from the Field

What’s Next for the Ford Foundation?

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Darren Walker

When I wrote about my first year on the job, I asked you all to do something: Tell me the truth. That simple request drew more than 2,000 e-mails to my inbox. In reflecting on each and every response, I have become more aware of the ways in which we can improve our institution, and serve our mission. … Read More
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Tips for Philanthropic Growth: Children, Not Dollars!

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito

Ginny Esposito
For more than 30 years, I’ve been talking with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles about bringing up healthy, happy, productive children in a philanthropic family. What I’ve come away with – and continue to share with others – are five keys. At the risk of over-simplifying a complex responsibility, I offer the lessons I’ve learned… Read More
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How Can Community Foundation Staff Prepare for and Manage Family Dynamics?

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Audrey Jacobs, Rob MacPherson

This month we are delighted to feature a question recently asked during our June webinar, Ten ways philanthropic families work with community foundations. This webinar provides reminders, tips, and peer advice for families, donors, and community foundation staff along with the stories of how two donor families have made the most of their long-time relationship with their local community foundation. The featured presenters are Lauren Amos from the Wish Foundation, David Barrett from the Gene B. Glick Company, Audrey Jacobs from The Center for Family Philanthropy for The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta; and Rob MacPherson from the Central Indiana Community Foundation… 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
Voices from the Field

Narrow and Deep

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Jay Ruderman

Every foundation, public or private, is different. Each foundation is passionate about the issues they support but the way they “do business” differs vastly. In order to change attitudes, build awareness and affect long-lasting change, our foundation’s narrow-and-deep approach manifests itself in two ways: our strategy of partnerships and public advocacy… Read More
Featured Article

Where there is community, there is fellowship

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Angie Hong

An increasing number of family foundations, community foundations, and regional associations are utilizing fellowship programs as a complementary strategy for meeting their charitable giving missions, while also seeking to expand local philanthropic leadership by building capacity in individual community members. Family foundations may decide to start a fellowship program for any of a number of reasons, including… 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

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