National Center for Family Philanthropy

Voices from the Field

Can a Small Organization Have a Big Impact?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Emily Tow

I get asked this question often.  How can a small foundation with few staff really catalyze large scale social change?  In fact, how can a foundation of any size play this role?  At The Tow Foundation, we have attempted to play a significant role in juvenile justice reform, an issue that seems like an intractable problem and not easily tackled… Read More
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Don’t Reinvent the Wheel: The Power of Field Scans

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Christine Sherry

In days of scarce resources and seemingly endless philanthropic choices, family foundations and funds can frequently feel overwhelmed by options and unsure where to best place their philanthropic bets.  Many funders wisely choose a focus area for funding, and then proceed to investigate – or be approached by – any number of apparently worthy organizations to support within that field… Read More
From NCFP

Values, Visions, and Vitality

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Virginia M. Esposito

Last week, the National Center for Family Philanthropy held its annual board retreat. We returned to The Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in Tarrytown, New York for the first time since our first board retreat more than 15 years ago. We spent most of our first retreat developing our values statement and refining our mission and program agenda,… Read More
Voices from the Field

Giving while living: Caroline Avery, The Durfee Foundation

Posted on March 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 March edition in this series, we share Bridgespan’s interview with Carrie Avery, president of The Durfee Foundation and board chair of the National Center for Family Philanthropy. To learn more about the goals and… Read More
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How Can We- and Why Should We- Use Facebook to Engage Family Members?

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

By Kelly Medinger Whether you are a Facebook neophyte or a self-proclaimed Facebookaholoic, there is no doubt that Facebook and other social media platforms have changed the landscape of why and how we communicate. So how does this landscape affect a private family foundation?  Especially when the family’s privacy is paramount? At the Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation,… Read More
From NCFP

The Spirit of Spring

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Virginia M. Esposito

Virginia Esposito, President, National Center for Family Philanthropy Happily, it is Spring. Those in the Northeast may be wondering about that but I assure you, it is coming to you too. There is something about the spirit of Spring that, for me, embodies the spirit of family philanthropy. It’s renewal. Without the promise of new vitality, of renewing the promise… Read More
Voices from the Field

Giving while living: Laura and John Arnold

Posted on February 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 February edition in this series, we share Bridgespan’s interview with John and Laura Arnold, recently named to the Philanthropy 50 list of top donors of 2012 by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. To learn… Read More
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What Questions Should We Ask Our Auditors?

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

Once again everyone’s favorite time of year has arrived, audit time! For many, this can be viewed as a daunting and even arduous process.  A family foundation in NCFP’s network of Friends who no longer cringes at audit time shares this list of questions to ask your auditor to ensure your organization has a clean financial bill of health. Questions for the Auditors Did management limit… Read More
Voices from the Field

Next Gen Leaders Taking the Reins of Family Philanthropy

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

Editor’s note: The new Next Gen Donors report features a variety of quotes and perspectives from next gen donors on the topics of values and legacy, strategic grantmaking, and collaborations and relationships. Here are a few of the highlights. Values and Legacy: Quotes from The Next Gen Donors Study Strategic Giving: Quotes from The Next Gen Donors Study   Collaboration… Read More
Voices from the Field

Giving while living: Eli Broad

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Susan Wolf Ditkoff

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. To launch this series, we share Bridgespan’s interview with Eli Broad on his entrepreneurial and “give now” approach to philanthropy, along with an introduction from Bridgespan Partner Susan Wolf Ditkoff on the goals and highlights… Read More

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