Ask NCFP

We’re pleased to present a very special edition of Ask the Center, featuring answers to questions on disaster philanthropy from two of the presenters from our June 13th webinar on the topic of “Disaster Philanthropy: The Role of Family Giving in Preparedness, Response and Recovery.” Lori J. Bertman is president and CEO of the Baton Rouge-based Irene W. and C.B… Read More

Self-dealing is defined to include almost all business and financial transactions between a private foundation and its “disqualified persons.” So what is exactly is a disqualified person? The following is excerpted from the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s Passages Issue Brief, “Avoiding Conflicts and Self-Dealing for Family Foundation Boards,” by Ben White. Friends of the Family and FP Online subscribers… Read More

By Kelly Medinger Whether you are a Facebook neophyte or a self-proclaimed Facebookaholoic, there is no doubt that Facebook and other social media platforms have changed the landscape of why and how we communicate. So how does this landscape affect a private family foundation?  Especially when the family’s privacy is paramount? At the Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation,… Read More

Editor’s Note: Many families anticipating a generational board change ask the National Center for Family Philanthropy how to involve the next generation in their giving as they are getting ready to ascend to the board. Many families have begun to ask about easy ways to involve their children in philanthropy while they are still young to create a “culture of giving.” The… Read More

The National Center hosted a special webinar on the topic of “Avoiding Leaky Pipes: Enhancing Donor-Grantee Collaboration” this past October. On the webinar Susan Wolf Ditkoff, a partner in the Boston office of the Bridgespan Group,  provided a “litmus test” one can use to determine if you have an effective collaboration. The two major components one must address are shared goals… Read More

We would like to share tips and tools with our family and friends about giving and family philanthropy during the holidays. Can you recommend any good resources on this topic? The Hip Family’s Guide to Happier Holidays Lisa Parker of the Lawrence Welk Family Foundation says in her guide: “The single best piece of advice I received as a young… Read More

What is a family council and when should a family considering establishing one? Many families with multiple branches may elect to set up a Family Council. While the particular roles and responsibilities of Family Councils vary across families, they typically function as an oversight committee that consists of a small group of family members elected or selected out of the… Read More

Can family foundations play a role in presidential or local elections? Well, sort of. The long answer is more complex than you might expect and private foundations who want to enter this arena must do so with care.  The role you and your grantees can play in issues that might have heightened public attention in an election year lies in… Read More