Ginny Esposito

Virginia M. Esposito

Senior Fellow and Founding President

Virginia M. Esposito, is the founding president of the National Center for Family Philanthropy. In January 2020, Ginny transitioned to the role of Senior Fellow to focus her efforts on research, writing, and consulting with families.

For more than 35 years, Ginny has worked to advance private philanthropy through research and education. For 30 of those years, she has focused on the family philanthropic experience, promoting values, vision, and excellence across generations of donor families. Ginny was editor and principal author of the first edition of Splendid Legacy and of Splendid Legacy 2: Creating and Recreating Your Family Foundation. Her research publications include The Power to Produce Wonders: The Value of Family in Philanthropy and The Family Foundation CEO: Crafting Consensus out of Complexity. Ginny also edited, and was principal author of, the four-volume Family Foundation Library and numerous articles and issue papers on family philanthropy. She has presented at hundreds of programs for and about donor families throughout North America and on four other continents. In addition to her work on family philanthropy, Ginny edited Conscience and Community: The Legacy of Paul Ylvisaker, the writings and speeches of the late foundation trustee, educator, and dean of the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. She has served on boards and committees for organizations including Great Nonprofits, the Binational Commission on the Nonprofit Sector (US and South Africa), the Commission on the Future of Public Education (Public Education Network), Committee on Ethics and Accountability (Independent Sector), the Philanthropy and the Black Church Project, and Strengthening Native American Philanthropy. She currently serves on the board of directors of the John M. Belk Endowment.

Contributions

2016 Trustee Education Institute: a Comprehensive Seminar for Family Foundation Trustees

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Virginia M. Esposito, Susan Crites Price, Andrew Schulz, Bruce Kahn, David Grant, David Dodson, David Neal, Alice Buhl, Jan Jaffe, Kelin E. Gersick, Ph.D.

NCFP’s Trustee Education Institute provides a comprehensive introduction to all of the key legal, investment, ethical, grantmaking, and family dynamics issues facing family foundation board members. Featuring a faculty made up of NCFP’s senior staff and highly respected philanthropy experts, this three day, intensive seminar will cover: What does it mean to be a steward of both the public’s trust… Read More

Community Foundation Spark Session: Raising a new generation of philanthropists

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito, Susan Crites Price, Elizabeth Sullivan, Joline Godfrey

This special peer networking event for community foundation staff that are members of NCFP’s Family Philanthropy Through Community Foundations initiative will feature a conversation with three of the nation’s leading experts on raising philanthropic children in a multi-generational family philanthropy, along with peer presentations on effective strategies for working with family donors in your community. Space is very limited so… Read More
From NCFP

Grace, Gratitude and Generosity

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito

Ginny Esposito
One of my favorite NCFP publication titles, Grace, Gratitude and Generosity, was used for our Faith and Family Philanthropy journal more than a dozen years ago. When we used it, inspired by one of the Journal’s authors, I felt it had meaning far beyond that one publication; I still do today… Read More
From NCFP

Tips for Philanthropic Growth: Children, Not Dollars!

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito

Ginny Esposito
For more than 30 years, I’ve been talking with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles about bringing up healthy, happy, productive children in a philanthropic family. What I’ve come away with – and continue to share with others – are five keys. At the risk of over-simplifying a complex responsibility, I offer the lessons I’ve learned… Read More

Leading by Design: a Special Retreat for Family Foundation CEOs

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito, Gayle Williams, Jan Jaffe

The role of a family foundation CEO is unique, often bridging generations of family members, community leaders, staff, advisors and partners. Expectations can be challenging to meet and boundaries are sometimes vague and ever-changing. Success in this role requires a cadre of specialized leadership skills. This retreat will help you identify the roles essential to your position—and envision them with… Read More
From NCFP

So Many Differences, So Much in Common

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Virginia M. Esposito

Given all the varied grant interests, governing structures, giving vehicles, and staffing systems, you’d think the Committee and staff would be overwhelmed with options and focus. However, we are inspired, invigorated, and happily challenged to ensure the National Forum program delves into as many critical issues as possible, and all with a provocative, sophisticated, and satisfying approach. … Read More