Featured Article

#Family #Philanthropy and Social Media: a Conversation with @KateWolford, President of @McKnightFdn

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Kate Wolford

Thinking about entering the world of Twitter, but not sure whether it’s a good use of your time? Not sure what to tweet about, who to follow, or how to measure and maximize the value of your time spent on social media? In this month’s edition of Family Giving News, we’re delighted to share the perspectives of family philanthropy leader… Read More
From NCFP

Focused Philanthropy

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Virginia M. Esposito

Family philanthropy mirrors so much of what we care about and who we love that it is often reflected in many different aspects of our lives. It’s about relationships, passions, and the way we would like to make the world a better place.  Little things can remind us why we care about excellence in family philanthropy. Consequently, it should not… Read More

Fast Forward to Greater Impact: The Power of Field Scans

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Christine Sherry

Field scans are emerging as a core tool for family funders inundated by increasingly larger numbers of nonprofits seeking funding, the ubiquity of social media pitches, and an almost limitless amount of data available on the web—data which can be more overwhelming than useful. Field scans are particularly valuable for family foundations that want to try a new strategy, find… Read More
Voices from the Field

Giving while living: Jean and Steve Case

Posted on July 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Editor’s Note: The National Center is delighted to partner in 2013 with the Bridgespan Group to feature videos from its Conversations with Remarkable Givers series. For our July edition in this series, we share Bridgespan’s interview with Jean and Steve, co-founders of the Case Foundation and AOL, and two of the nation’s leading proponents for using the internet for good. To… Read More
Ask NCFP

Are Family Foundation Board Internships an Effective Tool for Training the Next Generation?

Posted on July 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

Are board internships an effective tool for training the next generation? What are some examples of other family foundations that have used them, and what have their experiences been? The National Center for Family Philanthropy and Youth Philanthropy Connect, a program of the Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation, have teamed up on the release of our latest Passages Issue Brief… Read More
Voices from the Field

Fifteen Years of Advancing Family Philanthropy and a Look to the Future

Posted on July 15, 2013 by National Center for Family Philanthropy

We’re pleased to present a very special edition of Voices from the Field, featuring answers to questions posed to our July webinar presenters on the topic ”15 Years of Advancing Excellence in Family Philanthropy: Lessons Learned…and a Look Ahead.” The webinar featured all of our former board chairs with the exception of Curtis Meadows. Presenters included: Carrie Avery, president of… Read More
Featured Article

Igniting the spark, part II: How do next gen boards work and how do we create one?

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Kevin Laskowski, Katie Marcus Reker, Andrea Hernandez Rodriguez

Part 2 of 2 The National Center for Family Philanthropy and Youth Philanthropy Connect, a program of the Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation, have teamed up on the release of our latest Passages Issue Brief entitled, “Igniting the Spark: Creating Effective Next Generation Boards.”  Giving families prepare their younger members for potential board service in a variety of ways, as… Read More
From NCFP

Fifteen Years, Ten Trends: Then and Now

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Virginia M. Esposito

Ginny Esposito
“Democracy does not give the people the most skillful government, but it produces what the ablest governments are frequently unable to create; namely, an all-pervading and restless activity, a superabundant force, and an energy which is inseparable from it and which may, however unfavorable circumstances may be, produce wonders.  These are the true advantages of democracy.” The above quotation, one… Read More

Igniting the Spark: Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Youth Philanthropy Connect

As a way to support the voice of youth in the community and engage donors, the Great Worcester Community Foundation adopted the Youth for Community Involvement (YCI) Program in 1999. YCI provides an opportunity for youth from schools across the area to build skills in leadership and philanthropy. The foundation set up a youth endowment to support the program and… Read More

Igniting the Spark: Creating Effective Next Gen Boards

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Andrea Hernandez Rodriguez, Katie Marcus Reker, Kevin Laskowski

This Passages Issue Brief introduces an increasingly popular method for preparing the next generation for philanthropic service: the next generation or junior board. The paper covers the variety of purposes for establishing next generation boards and how they are typically structured, explores how foundations use next generation boards as a tool for engaging younger family members, and describes options for preparing younger family members for governance and grantmaking… Read More