National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP)

📌 NCFP's offices will be closed for rest, renewal, and holiday celebrations from December 23–January 3. Before we go, we would like to say thank you to you, our members, for 🔷 helping to build a community of family philanthropists who learn from, and challenge each other, in order to practice more effective philanthropy. 🔷 joining us, whether in-person or remotely, to build connections, and a culture of learning within the field. 🔷 freely sharing your stories, practices, policies, successes, and failures, helping inform peers in how to practice their work more effectively. We look forward to reconnecting with you in the new year.

"Our parents understood that as communities evolve, priorities change and what may have once resonated for them may not necessarily be embraced by their children." Second-generation family member of the Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation Liz Norton outlines the process she and her siblings undertook to honor the work of their parents, forge their own philanthropic path, and embrace transparency in the next era of the foundation’s work. In this blog, Norton describes how they balanced legacy with modern needs, sought external assistance when needed, and leaned into transparency and accountability. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eJkUkQJR

📌 NCFP is hiring for a senior manager of member services. If you have fundraising experience, enjoy relationship building, and are interested in philanthropy this role may be for you. Learn more about the role and how to apply below 👇

What are the latest trends in governance, staff, and operations, across family foundations? Our latest Trends report uncovered lots of interesting data, including: 🔵 The number of independent board members has increased. 🔵 Boards are more racially diverse. 🔵 Boards now spend more time planning, learning and evaluating. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eEnnX7Dp

Have you seen funder listening in action? Fund for Shared Insight Insight and their learning and evaluation partner ORS Impact are inviting foundations to share their community listening stories to help demonstrate what’s possible when grantmakers listen to the people and communities most impacted by their decisions. By sharing your experience, you can inspire and support other funders on their listening journeys and help ORS explore important issues around how foundations listen to shift power. Please take five minutes to share your story. ORS will follow up with funders that complete the short form. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ex5TgYYH

🔔 Our final edition of Family Giving News is here. We've got the latest news, trends, and research in family philanthropy including: 🔷A round up of our most-read blogs in 2024, featuring Peter Marks on declining applications better, and Daniel Gould, CFA, CAIA on how the Marguerite Casey Foundation updated its investment policy statement to align its endowment with its grantmaking work. 🔷 Events from the field including events on Participatory Learning and Decision-Making, and Immigrant Media and the Fourth Estate. 🔷 Our most-downloaded resources from 2024. Read it ⬇️

How do you engage in reparative work? Join C'Ardiss Gardner Gleser and June Wilson for this fireside chat to learn more about how giving families can engage in relational repair for greater impact. The session will provide insights on addressing historical and systemic injustices through reparative giving and relationships grounded in trust and healing. Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/gKbeTFre

When should you use an intermediary fund and how should you select one? Intermediary funds are appealing choices for donors who want to enter a new funding space, respond to urgent needs, or lack the time to commit to an issue they care about, among other reasons. In this blog post, Chloe Cockburn of Just Impact Advisors outlines the many reasons to turn to an intermediary fund and the four factors to consider when selecting the right one. Read the full piece below.

Welcome to the team, Sarah Slobodien Dovere! Sarah is our new Senior Director of Advancement and will lead the advancement team in stewarding and deepening relationships with NCFP’s members and the wider field. For more than a decade, she has held leadership positions in nationally recognized nonprofits—most recently as the Vice President of External Affairs at Venture Philanthropy Partners.

What are the latest trends in grantmaking across family foundations? Our latest Trends report uncovered lots of interesting data, including: 🔵 Payout rates are increasing 🔵 Foundations are becoming more grantee-focused 🔵 A decrease in general operating grants 🔵 A decrease in discretionary giving Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eEnnX7Dp