National Center for Family Philanthropy

Contributions

A Tribute to Ike Leighty

Posted on June 20, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

“Starting a family foundation is like catching a porcupine.  First you throw a wash tub over it, and that gives you something to sit on while you figure out what to do next!” Those were the words of the late great Herman “Ike” Leighty. Essentially what Ike meant was that there is no one clear path to success in philanthropy… Read More

What are the roles of board committees?

Posted on June 20, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Board committees are at the heart of good governance. Committee members should make the necessary decisions and provide the day-to-day oversight needed to ensure that a family foundation board follows its fiduciary and legal obligations. Refer to Policy Central: Board Commitees for examples of how to organize your foundation’s committees. Once board roles have been established, you should then determine how you… Read More

What is the role of the foundation’s president?

Posted on June 19, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

The president is responsible for establishing an efficient and effective infrastructure that enables seamless execution of grantmaking functions and heightens professionalism of the foundation’s operations. The role can be broken down into 5 core responsibilities: Leadership for the foundation’s grantmaking– The president is responsible for focusing on the issues that the trustee’s feel are of great importance. He/she is also… Read More

What constitutes operating expenses for private foundations?

Posted on June 13, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Operating expenses, also known as overhead, are any cost associated with operating your organization. These costs can then be divided into two subcategories, direct costs and indirect costs. Direct costs can be defined as any expense that is required to develop a project. Indirect costs are expenses that are not related to the actual project. Salaries and office rent are… Read More

Should our foundation focus on being “strategic” or “responsive” in our grantmaking?

Posted on June 9, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

When your board approves a grant, you are hoping and expecting that your philanthropic investment will make a significant impact. In order to become an effective grantmaker, your giving should always align with the core beliefs of your foundation. Beyond this, there are two common approaches that boards take when considering how to allocate the foundation’s resources: strategic or responsive. … Read More

Engaging the Next Generation: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families

Posted on May 31, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Donor-advised funds are more than just a smart and flexible vehicle for charitable giving. These funds also provide an opportunity to teach children and grandchildren valuable lessons about giving and financial responsibility — and offer a chance to create a philanthropic legacy that spans generations.. This Passages Issue Brief provides advice on how your family can engage the next generation… Read More

Family Governance and Family Philanthropy: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families

Posted on May 2, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Family governance is the framework in which a family manages its joint affairs. A family applies guiding principles to general policies and specific practices for carrying out the roles and responsibilities of their joint activities, such as family philanthropy. A growing number of families are using donor advised funds and supporting organizations at their local community foundation as a core… Read More

Trends in family philanthropy: A conversation with NCFP founder and president Virginia Esposito

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Virginia M. Esposito, National Center for Family Philanthropy

NCFP’s recently released Trends in Family Philanthropy study was based on the first-ever nationally representative sample of family foundations, and features a treasure trove of data on topics such as family foundation governance, board activities, and grant making strategy. This complimentary event, featuring an overview of the study by NCFP President Ginny Esposito, will highlight issues and topics of interest to all family… Read More

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