Featured Article

Gratitude and Humility in Philanthropy; from a Story, to a Value, to Action

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Julie Fisher Cummings, Doug Bitonti Stewart

Authors and leaders throughout the field have published articles and tools (e.g. Grandparent Legacy Project) aimed to help families ask questions to elicit the core values of our founders. When we are able to connect our founders’ values to real-life stories, it can have a profound impact on our families and those we serve… Read More

Report to Congress on Supporting Organizations and Donor Advised Funds – Department of the Treasury

Posted on July 21, 2016 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Title XII of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Pub. L. 109-280, 120 Stat. 780 (2006) (the PPA) made numerous changes to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) addressing charitable giving and tax-exempt organizations. Particular changes to the law were made regarding supporting organizations (SOs) and charitable giving arrangements commonly referred to as donor advised funds (DAFs). The legislation provided a statutory definition… Read More

Is there a database for donors to find great grants/nonprofits to fund?

Posted on July 21, 2016 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Every year, our family foundation considers new causes and grantees to support. Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, the foundation staff would like to know if there is a database or another resource that captures great grantseeker requests for funding. To our knowledge there does not (yet) exist a one-stop-shop for grantmakers looking to navigate requests for funding. However,… Read More

How do family foundations typically provide discretionary grants?

Posted on July 21, 2016 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Q: How do family foundations typically provide discretionary grants? What about for committee members that aren’t board members? A: According to our 2015 Trends in Family Philanthropy study, “Most family foundations (85 percent) allow individual board members to recommend discretionary grants for foundation funds.” Each family foundation ultimately has to find the balance that’s right for them! NCFP has published two issue… Read More

Igniting the Spark: Tracy Family Foundation

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Youth Philanthropy Connect

The Tracy Family Foundation is located in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, with family geographically dispersed around the country.  The foundation’s mission is to provide resources to organizations that foster the values of Robert and Dorothy Tracy—a Catholic/Christian belief, honesty, integrity, fairness, and a strong work ethic. The foundation seeks to proactively strengthen Brown County in Illinois and the surrounding Region by… Read More

Igniting the Spark: Lumpkin Family Foundation

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Youth Philanthropy Connect

The Lumpkin Family Foundation is located in Mattoon, Illinois, with family geographically dispersed.  The foundation supports people pursuing innovation and long-lasting improvements in the environment, health, education, and community access to the arts in its home of Clara County. This next gen case study describes their history of youth engagement, and the strategies they have used to engage youth connected… Read More