Voices from the Field

Editor’s note: This piece was originally published by Jewish Funders Network and appears with permission. In 2018, Jewish Funders Network created a new initiative: the Center for Family Philanthropy at JFN Israel, the first program in Israel to tackle the distinct issues and opportunities that family philanthropy presents. The National Center for Family Philanthropy in the U.S. is a model and has been working… Read More

During Q & A at a conference, a woman in the audience stood up and commented, “This research is interesting, but I don’t see myself in it.” Her comment stayed with me. At the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI), our studies on gender and philanthropy account for factors that affect charitable giving, such as income, wealth, education, race, and health of… Read More

What choices do family foundations and funds have when it comes to transparency? And what approaches do other families take when it comes to managing transparency, communications, and privacy? NCFP’s new guide, Transparency in Family Philanthropy: Opening to the Possibilities examines how family funders are thinking about transparency… Read More

Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series by the Whitman Institute (TWI), featuring foundations that practice trust-based philanthropy, that acknowledge the power dynamics and realities facing nonprofits, and that invite more authentic relationships and communication with grantees. This piece originally appeared on the Whitman Institute’s website and appears with permission. The Hill-Snowdon Foundation is a DC-based foundation committed to supporting… Read More

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on eJewish Philanthropy and appears with permission. The names following are updated as of August 26, 2019. By the women* you can’t see and whose voices you can’t hear (but who are listed at the bottom of the piece to give credit to the women behind the words) Once upon a time, there… Read More

We all have emotions and biases. Fear and greed are two of the most powerful emotions and are often a foundation endowment’s worst enemies. As investors, we need to be self-aware and recognize how these emotions can impact our investment decision-making. In order to reduce investment risk related to emotions, crafting and implementing an Investment Policy Statement (“IPS”) is an… Read More

It’s been my privilege to manage The Ruth and Hal Launders Charitable Trust since its inception in 2006. When I took on this challenge, I never imagined how something as simple as giving money for charity could be so complicated. Mastering the private foundation rules, adopting best practices, keeping abreast of trends in modern philanthropy, and searching for outsized impact can make the head spin… Read More

Jolted by a stream of recent events, I have been reminded of the value and myriad benefits of Black-led giving circles and why I am a member of one. Hardly alone in this consciousness, I joined two chroniclers and members of giving circles to write "The Sweetness of Circles." In that opinion piece, we share our collective views on why giving circles have growing appeal among Black Americans in these trying times… Read More

Maybe you’ve been practicing philanthropy for a while and you’ve mastered the basics—the essentials you need to create a solid grantmaking strategy and process. How do you take your work and your effectiveness to the next level? … Read More