National Center for Family Philanthropy

From NCFP

A Time for Reflection and Action

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Kimberly Myers Hewlett, Nicholas A. Tedesco

Dear Community Members: This is a sobering time. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other Black people as a result of unconscionable acts of violence and aggression is once again challenging our nation to acknowledge the long-held suffering of communities of color across the United States. We are witnessing a response to centuries of racism… Read More
Voices from the Field

Let’s Live it Well: Family Funders Investing in Capacity When It’s Most Needed

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Juliette Cho

fabric heart on rope
Even in times of good health, nonprofits operate under tight financial and human capital constraints. As the devastating effects of COVID-19 have unfolded over the past few months, we have seen far too many nonprofits who do some of our most important work—providing essential services to children, the elderly, the homeless, victims of violence—and those who bring us joy and… Read More
Voices from the Field

Learning as We Go: A Regional Family Foundation Responds to the COVID Pandemic

Posted on May 25, 2020 by David Farren

South Carolina marshland
No doubt, the COVID-19 crisis elicits a strong sense of purpose in every grantmaker, interspersed with moments of feeling overwhelmed. How do we meet all of the pressing needs in a society with a relatively weak social safety net and glaring inequalities, relative to our collective resources? How much should we deviate from our existing programs and grantees? What is… Read More
Featured Article

Tell Me Anything: Advice for Funders Seeking to Become Active Listeners

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Maggie McGoldrick

feedback written on chalkboard
Active and open listening to grantee communities is not an entirely new topic for the philanthropic sector. Many funders have acknowledged the power dynamics inherent in their role, and as philanthropy evolves, there has been a shift towards greater transparency, deeper relationship-building between funders and grantees, and more grantee-focused funding practices. Groups like the Fund for Shared Insight and the… Read More
Voices from the Field

Oregon Community Foundation: Partnership and Collaboration Delivers Big Impact to COVID Response and Recovery

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Jennifer Olson Curry

hand holding plant in rain
In mid-March, as the scope and gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) moved nearly 100% of our staff to remote workplaces at the very moment our work increased in urgency and complexity. The pace of change and dramatic shift in service delivery is something none of us had ever experienced. I have been humbled by the… Read More
Featured Article

Leveraging Deep Community Ties: Rural Funders Tackle COVID-19

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Allen Smart

wheat field
The philanthropic response to COVID-19 has been dominated by three separate but interconnected themes: (1) Relaxation of standard reporting requirements, programmatic restrictions and timelines, (2) Advocacy for funders to extend themselves past standard 5% payout spending policies and (3) Creation of emergency funding pools or other rapid response structures. While all are worthy of consideration, these trends are not groundbreaking… Read More
Network News

May 2020: News and Notes from NCFP’s Friends of the Family Network

Posted on May 5, 2020

Friends Focus highlights updates from members of our Friends of the Family network and their work. This month features updates from the Bainum Family Foundation, Frey Foundation, Hill-Snowdon Foundation, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Phillips Family Foundation, Self Family Foundation, Sobrato Family Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Tarsadia Foundation, and Tracy Family Foundation. Are you a current Friend or Leadership Circle member… Read More
Voices from the Field

Hoffberger Family’s Legacy of Giving is Bound by Two Pandemics

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Alison Fass, Amy Segal Shorey

Hoffberger coalwood truck from 1913
Fourth generation Hoffberger family members gathered in April to begin the final phase of their foundation’s strategic planning process that started nine months ago with GMA Foundations consultant Amy Shorey. The world has changed since then, yet the themes that connect current trustees with previous generations of their family, and with the communities they love, have not. Seven Hoffberger brothers… Read More
Voices from the Field

Resiliency Starts at Home

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Dr. Brittany Kienker

plant grows out of rocks
My children are too young to understand COVID-19 or its global impact. All they know is that their mum and dad are at home, working far more hours than usual. When they are older, we will tell them about the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope that we can tell them that we persevered. They can learn about the families that spent… Read More

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