Evolving your Family Philanthropy: Bold Transparency

Posted on November 19, 2024

How can being more transparent about your philanthropy strengthen your relationships and build trust with grantees and partners?  The annual Trust in Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report showed that 57 percent of Americans trust the nonprofit sector—much higher than the government, media, or the business sector. Yet, only 33 percent have trust in the philanthropic sector (primarily private foundations and high… Read More

Trends in Family Philanthropy: Learnings for Effectiveness and Impact

Posted on November 19, 2024

What do the latest trends in family philanthropy tell us about effectiveness and impact?  Join us to dive into select findings from the Trends 2025 report. You will hear from family foundations about how these trends relate to their impact and effectiveness.   We’ll cover topics including relationships, accountability, and equity, and ask questions like:   How are family relationships changing, especially… Read More

Meeting the Moment Part Two: Effective Communication and Building Consensus through Change

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Jessica Montague, Billy McGuinness, Robin Holloway, Lisa Pinckney, Mailee Walker

Listening well and communicating effectively are vital to understanding and implementing lasting changes in your family philanthropy. During this session, we will be exploring the journey of listening to stakeholders and peers, building consensus internally, and tracking the effect and impact of these changes all while maintaining strong relationships and navigating family dynamics. Join us to learn from family philanthropies… Read More

21st-Century Governance Part Three: Family Philanthropies as Stewards of a Public Trust

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Gia Rauenhorst, Nicholas Banovetz, Richard Woo, Ashley Blanchard

What responsibilities do family philanthropies have to steward their funds intended for public benefit? Who are they accountable to in their pursuit of effective family philanthropy? Embracing accountability and continuous reflection are critical for effective stewardship. In this webinar we will discuss how donor families can thoughtfully steward funds throughout their philanthropic lifespan. We’ll consider original wealth creation and donor… Read More

Hate-Free Family Philanthropy

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Eric Jolly, Robert (Bob) Fockler, Abbas Barzegar

Many donors are having conversations about their approach to anti-hate philanthropy. Attendees at this small group dialogue will gather for a grounding discussion about hate-free philanthropy with Abbas Barzegar from Horizon Forum.  Then, learn from two community foundation leaders, Robert M. Fockler, (Community Foundation of Greater Memphis) and Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D., (Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation), about their foundations’ journey,… Read More

Leading with Love and Gratitude: The David Rockefeller Fund at 30

Posted on August 4, 2020 by David Rockefeller Fund

The David Rockefeller Fund charts its history with a fascinating look into the evolution of the family and its philanthropy. The Fund’s history reflects the fact that change is inevitable and necessary, but must be rooted in the values and legacy of the family. The family’s recognition of this positions them for long-term success, encouraging them to remain flexible and… Read More

Trust-based Family Philanthropy

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Sarah Walczyk, Shaady Salehi, Ellen Friedman, Hanh Le

Trust-based philanthropy is being embraced by a growing number of family foundations as a way to alleviate power imbalances between funders and grantees while fostering more productive and informative relationships. Driven by the central philosophy that funders should approach grantee relationships as learning partnerships, a trust-based approach encourages multi-year unrestricted funding, streamlined reporting, and transparent and responsive communication. In this… Read More