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Across the world, philanthropy is undergoing a transformation that offers both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. With so much in flux, emerging donors and established funders are seeking new models not only for funding strategies and impact measures, but also for organizational design and management systems that will serve them well into the 21st century.

When initiating charitable work, it is important to remember that a foundation is also a business that requires developed governance practices. As Bill Gates said, “Effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity. The same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires.” The processes and procedures that comprise effective governance can harness the best of the family dynamic and help promote adherence to complex regulatory requirements.

Doug Balfour, author of Doing Good Great: An Insider’s Guide to Getting the Most Out of Your Philanthropic Journey, and Pat Armstrong of the Abbot Downing Institute for Family Culture discuss best practices for engaging in philanthropic activities as a family. Both believe that while each family’s questions are unique to their individual circumstances, there are common themes and patterns associated with the exploration of the “why” of their giving as well as the evolution of their philanthropy.

Reviewing the changes to the Tax Reform law from the lens of tax-efficient giving, it's clear it created some philanthropic winners and losers for the next few years. With the elimination of the phase-out of itemized deductions, donors who itemize can take advantage of the full amount of their charitable gifts, subject to Adjusted Gross Income limits. For donors who can no longer itemize, there are several good strategies to mitigate the loss of the deduction, including the use of IRAs, donor advised funds, and gifts of appreciated property.

It’s the giving season—a time of joy, wonder, togetherness, and sharing. For Kimberly Myers-Hewlett, it is also a special time that brings her back to her philanthropic roots that began with her parents teaching her brother and her the meaning of caring for others. Learning from her parents and their generous nature, Kimberly tries to be a good role model for her children. Watch the short video to hear how Kimberly and her husband are cultivating compassion and nurturing the innate spirit of generosity in their young children.

What choices do you have when it comes to transparency? How open and accessible is your family foundation—to the extended family, to grant seekers and partners, to the public? What approach do your colleague foundations take, and why? This guide examines how family funders are thinking, acting—and not acting—when it comes to how transparent they are with others. It encourages donors, boards, and staff of family foundations (and other giving vehicles) to purposefully consider your choices regarding transparency in grantmaking, governance, and operations.

Charitable giving in the U.S. has grown to record levels in recent years, and donor-advised funds (DAFs) account for nearly 10% of all U.S. charitable giving. Learn why benefits such as tax savings, modest costs, and increased flexibility and convenience can make DAFs an attractive option for those looking to donate.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect on January 1, 2018, and some experts suggest there could be a significant impact on charitable giving. Kim Laughton, President of Schwab Charitable, sat down with Hayden Adams, CPA, Director of Tax and Financial Planning at the Schwab Center for Financial Research (and former IRS agent) to discuss the new tax law and implications for charitable giving. Hear their thoughts on the matter, including strategies to help donors give more efficiently in the new tax environment.

Jennifer Mizrahi shares how her family's philanthropy has evolved since they experienced a stunning moment of surprise in their own giving journey. Hear more about how this family's foundation makes sure their stakeholders are active participants with active voices in all aspects of their giving. "There is no greater gift in life than enabling somebody else to have a better future." -Jennifer Mizrahi, Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund & President, RespectAbility

In family philanthropy we have the choice in how we define "family." In the case of the Quixote Foundation, family is defined as the people who are at the table because they care about each other and the issues—not because they share a biological connection. Hear about the family bonds that are created when working together for good."The more that we believe that we're in this together as a family, the greater impact we will have." -June Wilson, Executive Director Emeritus, Quixote Foundation