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Getting Started
Transitions in Family Philanthropy: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families
Posted on July 31, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
No matter the intensity of the emotions they generate, transitions have the potential to affect the course of your family’s life. These transitions also impact your family’s philanthropy — and how your family chooses to manage its charitable giving vehicles, such as your donor-advised fund or foundation. This Passages Issue Brief provides tips and tools for donor families and community… Read More
Managing Family Dynamics: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families
Posted on June 30, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
Family members marry, divorce, remarry, form domestic partnerships, and, in many cases, move far away from the family home. Siblings may have long established patterns of competitiveness, feelings of fairness, or other sibling rivalry issues. Parents and children may have values that differ significantly. Communication may break down. In turn, these common challenges can affect how your family decides to… Read More
A Tribute to Ike Leighty
Posted on June 20, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
“Starting a family foundation is like catching a porcupine. First you throw a wash tub over it, and that gives you something to sit on while you figure out what to do next!” Those were the words of the late great Herman “Ike” Leighty. Essentially what Ike meant was that there is no one clear path to success in philanthropy… Read More
What is a private operating foundation, and should we consider using this option?
Posted on June 14, 2017 by Jason Born
The IRS distinguishes between public and private foundations and, within private foundations, between operating and non-operating (grant-making) foundations. While private operating foundations may choose to make some grants to other charitable organizations, they must engage primarily in direct charitable activities by running their own programs (i.e., using their own facilities, staff and resources to directly further their charitable operations)… Read More
How Family Foundations Benefit From Relationships with Community Foundations
Posted on June 14, 2017 by Mark Neithercut
A healthy relationship with a community foundation is possible, and it can be a very useful partnership for a family foundation. This article explores the many ways these two types of foundations can work together to achieve the goals and objectives of the family foundation… Read More
Opportunity of a Lifetime 2.0: Multigenerational Family Philanthropy
Posted on June 12, 2017 by Kylie Musolf, Danielle LaJoie
More than ever before, giving families are working to involve multiple generations in their philanthropy. According to the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s Trends in Family Philanthropy Study, nearly 3 in 5 U.S. family foundations engage younger family members in the foundation — and more than 40 percent say they expect to add to or increase the number of younger-generation… Read More
Engaging the Next Generation: A Primer for Community Foundation Staff and Donor Families
Posted on May 31, 2017 by National Center for Family Philanthropy
Donor-advised funds are more than just a smart and flexible vehicle for charitable giving. These funds also provide an opportunity to teach children and grandchildren valuable lessons about giving and financial responsibility — and offer a chance to create a philanthropic legacy that spans generations.. This Passages Issue Brief provides advice on how your family can engage the next generation… Read More
DAF Impact Story: An Evolving Vehicle for Developing Younger Generations for Philanthropy
Posted on May 11, 2017 by David Weitnauer
With the conviction that the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation should be managed for perpetuity, board leadership approved the establishment of the Dobbs Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta in 2002 in part to provide a philanthropic training ground for succeeding generations… Read More
Have a Mission to Preserve a Vision
Posted on May 9, 2017 by Mark Neithercut
An effective mission statement can help further many objectives for a family foundation, including helping to preserve and protect the vision of the founding philanthropist. Yet the importance of mission has been largely ignored by foundation experts and philanthropy pundits over the last 10 years. … Read More