Voices from the Field

Like many regional associations of grantmakers, Grantmakers of Western PA (GWP) was created to help those working in philanthropy connect with and learn from one another.  As GWP approaches its 30th anniversary, the people interested in making smart community investments have broadened well beyond professional grantmakers… Read More

When two family foundations met in the summer of 2010 to allow their engaged youth to connect with and learn from one another, we never would have predicted what would come out of it. They launched, Youth Philanthropy Connect, a project of the Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation aimed at fostering youth engagement in philanthropy. … Read More

Giving back to society and having a meaningful impact is among the most empowering and rewarding aspects of wealth. In a world that’s changing faster and pulling us in different directions, it is often philanthropy that unifies us and focuses our attention to what matters most… Read More

Editor’s note: We are pleased to share NCFP President Virginia Esposito’s introductory remarks announcing our first Distinguished Fellow in Family Philanthropy at the National Forum. Read the official press release for more details. It is an incredible honor to be announcing the first Distinguished Fellow of the National Center for Family Philanthropy. Bruce Maza, CEO of the C. E. and… Read More

Editor’s note: the following is reprinted from Living the Legacy: The Value of a Family’s Philanthropy Across Generations, published by the National Center for Family Philanthropy in 1999. In a family foundation there is no question as to the importance of learning from the donors and carrying out their legacy. David and Lucile Packard left our foundation their estate as… Read More

Family foundations, by their very nature, are complex. With significant involvement of family members on the board and sometimes in operations as well, there can be layers of generations, widely divergent views and the need to preserve positive family relationships. This complexity is a challenge but not an excuse for avoiding transparency about how family foundations do their work… Read More

Editor’s note: We are pleased to reprint Karen Ansara’s prepared comments (more than were spoken) from her conversation with Lowell Weiss, President, Cascade Philanthropy Advisors; William Campbell, Chair, Campbell Family Foundation and The End Fund; and Mario Morino, Morino Institute and Founding Chairman, Venture Philanthropy Partners on May 8th at the National Forum on Family Philanthropy. These comments were originally posted on… Read More