Blog | Voices from the Field

Tough Talk

November 17, 2021 | Stephanie Ellis-Smith
This article was originally published by Phila Engaged Giving and is re-posted here with permission. Having tough conversations are often a necessary part of social change — both in funding it and in carrying it out. But how do we have a tough discussion that gets our point across without it coming across as a personal affront? I was recently asked to present Read More

Stephanie Ellis-Smith

November 17, 2021
Stephanie Ellis-Smith is the CEO and owner of the philanthropic advisory firm Phīla (pronounced phyla) Engaged Giving and is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) . She works with ultrahigh-net-wealth and high-profile individuals, families, foundations and corporations to make catalytic investments in people and organizations. Stephanie and her husband Douglas Smith started the Rockhaven Fund in 2008 to fund the arts, humanities, Read More
Blog | Voices from the Field

Prepare for Ethical Dilemmas on Family Boards

November 16, 2021 | Mary Phillips
This article was originally published by GMA Foundations and is re-posted here with permission. Many family foundations have taken the time to develop a values statement that guides board behavior and decisions.  While a board may have this deeply-held set of values, the board members might not always agree on how to interpret them. Reality can be complex, and gray Read More

Brian Hamilton

November 15, 2021
Brian Hamilton is a board member of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. He is also the CEO of Trillion Corporation. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in the Birmingham suburb of Bessemer, the company provides a range of services in the telecommunications marketplace, including procurement, warehousing, just-in-time inventory management and project management. Read More

Anne Marie Toccket

November 3, 2021
Anne Marie Toccket has worked across the globe with social enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and individuals to build strong, lasting, effective institutions. Anne Marie is currently executive director of the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, a growing family foundation using diverse philanthropic tools to support solutions to social, environmental, and economic challenges around the world. Before joining the Foundation in 2019, Anne Read More
Blog | Network News

November 2021: News and Notes from NCFP’s Friends of the Family Network

November 3, 2021
Friends Focus highlights updates from members of our Friends of the Family network and their work. This month features updates from the Compton Foundation, Delaplaine Foundation, Frist Foundation, Walter & Elise Haas Fund, Libra Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Stupski Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and Walton Family Foundation.  Are you a current Friend or Leadership Circle member of NCFP with an update or good Read More
Blog | Voices from the Field

Addressing Challenges on the Journey to Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

November 2, 2021 | Foundant Technologies
This article was originally published by Foundant Technologies and is re-posted here with permission. Last fall we asked our clients to share the work they’re doing in the areas of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and, no surprise, they went above and beyond. We are truly inspired by their responses and our follow up conversations, and look forward to sharing these Read More

Mary Sobecki

October 29, 2021
Mary Sobecki is the Executive Director of the Needmor Fund, a 65-year-old family foundation based in Ohio. Mary first became aware of the work of Needmor while serving as Senior Program Officer for the Toledo Community Foundation. Lured by the call of social justice and supporting systemic change, she joined the staff in 2004, becoming Executive Director in 2017. Read More

Nithin Jilla

October 27, 2021
Nithin Jilla is a passionate educator, social entrepreneur and philanthropist who champions building models and systems of social change that are sustainable and empower the next generation. Nithin began with his first efforts in philanthropy with his high school class – establishing a project to help raise funds to renovate educational facilities and provide students with scholarships in Kenya, to Read More
Blog | Voices from the Field

Nesting to Achieve Impact: Lessons for Family Funders from a National Foundation

October 26, 2021 | Daniel Widome, Deepti Sood
Family funders are regularly seeking opportunities to amplify their impact in the communities in which they live, work, and serve. Although they may not always have the scale or scope of larger national foundations, all family funders can still draw many lessons from larger funders about how to anchor their giving at the community level. TCC Group evaluated the Annie Read More