Engaging a Philanthropic Family with Many Divergent Interests

Stephen Toben, President of the Flora Family Foundation of Menlo Park, California, discusses the role of staff in helping to create a truly meaningful giving experience for philanthropic families. The Flora Family Foundation was founded in 1998 as a direct response to the desires of the descendants of William and Flora Hewlett for an authentic family giving experience. As president of the foundation, Toben works with each of the family members as individuals and supports the 26-member family council as they give together. Presenting this work with the Hewlett family as a case study, Toben addresses the unique governance of the Flora Family Foundation and how staff and advisors can support a family’s search for meaning and impact in their chosen vehicles.