Money and Values

Each of us has our own money story – the underlying assumptions, messages, hopes, and behaviors that we’ve learned over time about the meaning and use of money. Those stories are also influenced by increasing online data about family wealth and public skepticism of concentrated wealth. The alignments and clashes among family members, branches, and generations around their money stories easily spill over into a family’s philanthropy. They influence their ability to create shared philanthropic values, goals, investment and grantmaking policies, and more.

How can families create healthier money narratives and habits which can, in turn, create healthier alignment in their philanthropy? What are the appropriate roles of foundation staff and advisors in supporting those often-stressful family conversations?

For additional perspectives about defining motivations and values, see the Content Collection, Values and Motivations.