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Applying a broader parameter—one without a reference to age and with deference to each individual—the next generation philanthropists are people who see themselves as descendants rather than ancestors, who want to use their wealth to be of service to others. With the goal of inspiring next generation philanthropists to dream and consider new possibilities, this guide offers both thoughtful recommendations and a series of questions that every next generation donor should carefully consider on the philanthropic path.

One of the many challenges facing wealthy families in today’s fast-paced society is the need to meaningfully involve family members, including the rising generation, in the management of the family wealth enterprise. One way to engage the family is through philanthropic giving where families can derive great benefit from working together to define their core values and shared vision. If your family decides to take this approach, forming a private foundation may be the right answer for you.

If you are a newer family foundation with one or two generations on the board, five generations may seem like a long time away. Yet in family philanthropy, quite a few foundations have been operating and thriving for 50, 75, even 100 years. What’s the secret of these family philanthropies that make it five generations, and across family branches? How do they successfully attract and engage younger family members? Learn from what other thriving family foundations have done—and continue to do—to sustain a successful long-term family philanthropy.

The United States is home to tens of thousands of family foundations that have and continue to make positive contributions to society. It’s also not uncommon for the foundations’ boards of directors to play a leading role. Reflecting on the philanthropic journey and the family engagement and ties at the heart of it, here are seven profiles that present the philanthropic practices and structures of multigenerational family foundations that created lasting legacies of impact.

There are many benefits to involving children in family philanthropy. One of them is the children’s realization of the positive impact their own participation has on the world (no matter how small); another is their excitement about making a difference. For the families who want to pass down the value of charitable giving to their children, there are a variety of ways to engage them on the philanthropy journey and strengthen the family bond.

As high-net-worth investors discuss plans for charitable giving and investing with their financial advisors, it is absolutely crucial for them to be on the same page in terms of the outcomes desired, both financially and philanthropically. For this reason, advisors and their clients need a set vocabulary of terms going into the first meeting. Only then can they discuss goals (and ways of achieving them) without stumbling over communication roadblocks.