Board selection, training, roles, and responsibilities

The Better Boardroom: a Complimentary Lunch Seminar for Giving Families (Chicago)

Posted on February 25, 2015

Family foundations are a breed apart. The impact of family structure and dynamics on how a foundation is governed is enormous and consistently underestimated.  Join us for an overview of how to truly integrate the family into family foundation governance.   The program will cover these essentials: Forgotten factors – how family dynamics, family size and family structure should guide decisions… Read More

From the Start: Questions for Donors and Family Members

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Charles Hamilton

Donors often seek effective ways to involve other family members from the start. Heirs, meanwhile, look for ways to appropriately honor the legacy of the donor(s). There are many questions and issues likely to be considered by both the donor and future generations. (Source: Living the Legacy: The Values of a Family’s Philanthropy Across Generations, NCFP, 2001) Questions for the… Read More

Executive director’s annual performance review

Posted on December 8, 2014

Planning & Organizing: Demonstrates an understanding of the Foundation’s mission and priorities; establishes effective courses of action to implement the goals and objectives set forth in the strategic plan. Judgement & Decisiveness: Makes well-timed and sound decisions; meets deadlines; solves problems promptly; sets appropriate priorities for tasks. Initiative: Sets high goals/standards of performance for self and others; originates action rather… Read More

Board officer roles and responsibilities

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Anonymous

Officers shall be elected or appointed annually by the Trustees; and each officer shall hold office for a term of one year or until a successor is elected and qualifies. There shall be no limit on the number of successive terms of office for which an officer may serve. Chair The Chair and Vice-Chair offices shall each be held by… Read More

Advisory board member roles and responsibilities

Posted on December 8, 2014

The Sample Family Foundation’s Declaration of Trust designates two groups of participants: (1) “Trustees,” all of whom are currently family members and who vote on grants and issues of governance; and (2) “Advisors” who serve in an advisory capacity without voting power. Advisors are appointed to three-year terms that may be renewed until the Advisor reaches the age of seventy-five… Read More

A Colleague’s Perspective on Trustee Orientation

Posted on November 8, 2014

“Becoming a trustee of a family foundation can be a complex, confusing and confounding experience. Suddenly you are thrust into a room full of persons whom you thought you knew, but now they are all in different roles.” So begins the introduction to this first-person account of the value of a thoughtful and comprehensive trustee orientation program… Read More

Igniting the Spark next gen case study: Foundation for Metrowest

Posted on October 31, 2014

Youth Program Name: Youth in Philanthropy Website:  www.foundationformetrowest.org Located in: Natick, Massachusetts Who is Involved: Youth from the MetroWest Boston communities Led and managed by staff from the Foundation for MetroWest Youth Programming History and Scope: The Foundation for MetroWest has been committed to educating the next generation of community leaders through the Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program since 1997… Read More