Generations of Giving: Chapter 3 – Choices and Challenges for the Controlling Trustee Foundation

This is Chapter 3 of Generations of Giving: Leadership and Continuity in Family Foundations, the landmark 2006 study by a team of researchers led by Kelin Gersick and co-published by the National Center for Family Philanthropy.  This chapter features an introduction to the controlling trustee foundation, and a look at the giving motivations and perspectives of founders and donors. The chapter covers the “Transition to a Formal Foundation” stage of development, and includes an important look at “The Critical Early Decisions” that face all family foundation founders. Finally, the chapter includes a look at “The Long-Term Impact of Founders’ Early Decisions” on the governance and structure of the foundation, and its philanthropy.

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