Ask NCFP

Ask NCFP

Ask NCFP: Should we add discretionary giving to our grantmaking strategy?

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Miki Akimoto

NCFP receives a number of questions about family philanthropy and is particularly equipped to answer inquiries about philanthropic purpose, governance, next-generation engagement, family dynamics, and succession and legacy. This series is designed to answer commonly asked questions and provide resources and considerations for family funders. If you have a family philanthropy question, consider posting to NCFP’s Peer Exchange Platform for… Read More
Ask NCFP

Ask NCFP: Should my family foundation board have term limits? 

Posted on May 8, 2024 by Miki Akimoto

NCFP receives a number of questions about family philanthropy and is particularly equipped to answer inquiries about philanthropic purpose, governance, next-generation engagement, family dynamics, and succession and legacy. This series is designed to answer commonly asked questions and provide resources and considerations for family funders. If you have a family philanthropy question, consider posting to NCFP’s Peer Exchange Platform for… Read More
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Ask NCFP: Grant Management Systems

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Katie Scott

Courtesy of Photo by Alejandro Escamilla on Unsplash Despite the upheaval COVID-19 has caused, many foundations are finding time to revisit their strategies, systems, and tools. Several funders have reached out to NCFP in recent weeks looking for guidance on evaluating grants management systems. We are not experts on all systems available, but NCFP staff members have used grants systems… Read More
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Good Grants Gone Bad

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Shirley McLaughlin

Editor’s note: We encourage funders to adopt Trust-based philanthropy practices wherever possible, but still there are times when it’s necessary to reflect on your expectations and agreements with grantees. Most private family foundations are primarily grantmakers, furthering their charitable purposes by making grants to other 501(c)(3) nonprofits. This post discusses a few situations private foundation and other funders may encounter… Read More
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How can family foundations and community foundations work most effectively together?

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Tim Ober, Shelley Hoss, National Center for Family Philanthropy, Keith Swayne, Audrey Jacobs, Ann Mulholland

Are there good examples of family foundations working closely with the donor community, brought to the table via the community foundation, to strengthen philanthropic initiatives broadly? How can we partner with the community foundations in our state to know community goals and make more effective grants in those areas? … Read More
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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

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