Fundamentals
Family Foundation Staffing Models
Fundamentals
The following are some of the models that are used for staffing family foundations. Many families use variations on these models or a combination of them. Any of them can be effective, depending on what is important to the family. The two major considerations, and they are linked, are: how much…
Managing Your Family Foundation: Consider These Options
Fundamentals
Looking for the single best way to manage a family foundation? You may be looking for a long time. Because family foundations are unique within the foundation world, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to management. Each family creates its own rules and structures for its foundation, allowing for…
Knowing How and When to Monitor, Assess, and Evaluate Grants
Fundamentals
A family foundation's legal responsibilities for monitoring, assessing, or evaluating the grants it makes to organizations with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status are minimal. The IRS requires little in the way of detailed reporting on the outcome of specific grants—except for grants to organizations that…
The Effects of Family Culture on Family Foundations
Fundamentals
Most people do not think of their family as having a “culture.” For many, it's a group of familiar people doing what they always do.
Yet it is exactly this—a characteristic way of thinking, feeling, judging, and acting—that defines a culture. Both in direct and subtle ways, children are molded by…
A Colleague's Perspective on Mission and Vision Statements
Fundamentals
This perspective offered by William Graustein of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund in 2013 provides useful context on creating your own foundation's mission and vision statements.
When you get down to it, the reason a charitable foundation exists is to change the world or, at least,…
A Colleague's Perspective on Generational Succession
Fundamentals
In 2013, Merede Graham of the Namaste Foundation offered her perspective about how generational succession shaped her family foundation.
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My parents started our family foundation with the intent of providing their children with opportunities to build confidence and skills to serve us both…
Charity Really Does Begin at Home: Nurturing Family Values
Fundamentals
Family celebrations and holidays are prime opportunities to create philanthropic traditions (and develop philanthropic values). To honor a child’s birthday you might plant a tree. For Mother’s Day, help your children do a good deed for someone else’s mother whose children can’t be with her. Family…
International Corporate Giving
Legal Compliance Guidance, Fundamentals
This brief provides practical advice on setting strategy, ensuring on-the-ground presence, and selecting partners for U.S.-based companies with foundations and/or giving programs that are either venturing into the international giving arena or seeking to enhance their current programs. The last…
First 100 Days of the Chief Corporate Giving Officer Advice from the Field
Fundamentals
The First 100 Days is not intended to be a comprehensive job description or in-depth exposé on the giving officer’s career; rather, it will help you, as a novice in this role, prioritize your activities during the early stages of your transition.
First 100 Days of the Community Relations Manager: Advice from the Field
Fundamentals
During the summer of 2004, we interviewed several corporate community relations managers to gather advice for new staff in similar positions. Their comments are summarized here, and direct quotes appear in italics. While First 100 Days is not a detailed job description, it will provide novice…
Challenges in Succession Planning
Fundamentals
As family members come together in their collective role as trustees of the family foundation, they must grapple with many issues. Along with their grantmaking responsibilities, they set policies for governance and management and oversee the investment of the foundation’s assets. Unlike officers of…
Should CEOs Be on the Board?
Fundamentals
This briefing will help your board consider three main questions: what are the advantages and limitations of CEOs on boards? If the CEO is on the board, should they have full voting rights? How do your colleagues approach this decision?
What is the Best Size for Your Board?
Fundamentals
This article will help your board consider three main questions:
What are the advantages and limitations of large versus small boards?
What size will help us best accomplish our mission?
How do our colleagues approach this question?
Although board size varies significantly among different…
Articulating the Foundation's Mission
Fundamentals
A mission statement gives all who are interested an idea of why the foundation was established and how it defines its own work. The statement is usually broad, worded to reflect the donor’s intent, and give a flavor of the foundation’s values and interests. For family foundation trustees,…
An Introduction to Board Composition for Family Foundations
Fundamentals
Family foundations must grapple with many questions when determining who will serve on the board. For example, who is eligible for board service? The easy answer for many foundations is that all family members are eligible, but how do you define "family member"? This document highlights some…
Working with the Media
Fundamentals
Working with the media should be part of your overall communications plan. Even if you don't have a written communications plan, you still need to focus some attention toward the media. Working with the media—that is, public relations—establishes a strong public presence and image for your…
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