Perpetuity, lifespan, and spend down

A Date Certain: Lessons from Limited Life Foundations

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Center for Effective Philanthropy

Morning on the beach. Magical sunrise over sea
To learn more about limited life foundations’ decisions to spend down — and the ways in which they grapple with several important issues along their journey to pursuing their goals in a finite period of time — the Center for Effective Philanthropy conducted in-depth interviews with leaders of 11 limited life foundations. Resulting from these interviews, this report illustrates the ways in which limited life foundations approach spending down in nine key areas, including archiving knowledge… Read More

In Times of Growth: Planning for an Influx of Assets

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Elaine Gast Fawcett

An influx of assets is a powerful transition point in your philanthropy. With rising resources comes the budding potential to do more of what you’re already doing—or, perhaps, try something new. This Passages Issue Brief will help you plan now for growth tomorrow, and manage change if you’re in the midst of it today… Read More

Spending Policy (David and Lucile Packard Foundation)

Posted on June 10, 2015 by David and Lucile Packard Foundation

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation aims to be a long-term, though not necessarily a perpetual institution. Currently it is the intention of the Foundation to exist as a strong foundation working toward important goals in its program areas of interest through at least 2060, representing approximately the lifespan of David and Lucile Packard’s grandchildren. The Foundation is structuring its… Read More

Our History (William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund)

Posted on June 8, 2015 by William C. Graustein

Listen to the history of the Memorial Fund, as told by Bill Graustein: The Story of the Memorial Fund. Listening to the stories of the people, families and communities we work with is an essential part of our work. Supporting and inspiring the children of our communities is what we seek to achieve. The Graustein family immigrated to Boston from… 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

Foundations Moving On: Ending Programmes and Funding Relationships

Posted on November 8, 2013 by GrantCraft

Whether you are part of a family foundation that runs its own programmes, a big corporate grantmaker, a small venture philanthropist, an NGO that re-grants resources from a back-donor, or a mix of any of the above, exits are inevitable. Funders move on, and relationships with grantees, partners, or investees change along the way. Exit decisions and strategies are complicated;… Read More

The Power of Urgency – The Eckerd Family Foundation

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Jason Born

Organized from its inception as a limited life foundation, the Eckerd Family Foundation took a bold and strategic approach to using its assets to create significant change on issues affecting young people, including juvenile justice, foster care, and education… Read More

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