Charitable planning can be an important part not only of managing income and estate taxes, but of engaging the family and strengthening family values. Adding in a multigenerational component can make it even more meaningful and compelling. Just as every family is unique, so is the philanthropic approach where communication is key and there is more than one way to involve a family in philanthropy.
Philanthropic Mission and Strategies
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Few, if any, roles are more significant in ensuring a foundation's success than that of the board chair. This may be why many people find assuming this position a daunting project. And yet the successful businessperson who serves as chair of a family foundation dedicated to a cause that was dear to his or her parents' hearts or the community leader who serves as chair of an independent foundation that provides deserving youth with life-changing opportunities will tell you that few roles are more rewarding.
The field of philanthropy has primarily been built around the more tactical aspects and the how of giving while taking the why for granted.
The question Virginia “Ginny” Esposito, Founder of the National Center for Family Philanthropy, gets asked the most, is “How can I engage my family in philanthropy?” In this episode, Ginny highlights what family business is and common trends in the work she has been in for over 30 years. She has lots of wisdom for parents and great resources, whether you are just getting started or if you’ve been giving for decades.
Kelly and Isabel talk about how "finding their person" guided them along their philanthropic journey. In this family, each generation encourages the next by engagement, mentorship, and resilient family culture. Listen and learn more about the Surdna Foundation's inspiring story of multi-generational giving.
Hear from Monica about her grandmother's influence encouraging the new, third generation to get involved and bring their own voices to the table. Monica, now president of the Conant Family Foundation, also talks about activism and shares how the foundation has developed new opportunities, such as emergency funding, while also honoring her grandmother Doris' legacy.
Farhad Ebrahimi invites us all to reimagine the role of philanthropy—and both the opportunities and power it provides. After being gifted a significant amount of money, he and his sister founded the Chorus Foundation to tackle the global climate crisis.
This guide is designed to introduce you to the world of thoughtful, effective philanthropy. It’s a roadmap for donors—individuals, couples, families, or groups. It offers an overview of issues that philanthropists may want to consider as they create their own giving strategies. And like any good planning tool, this guide presents a series of questions with options—not a set of answers—to create not only a strategic framework, but an outline of how to operate your giving plan.
In a time of increasing social and economic challenges, this guide offers both emerging and established donors a look at important questions and issues faced. Even the most seasoned philanthropists need to pause, reflect, and ensure that their giving strategies reflect the seismic shifts around the world. No matter your issue, no matter your method—be it through public-private partnerships, impact investing, coalitions, collaboration, or more traditional philanthropy models—there are opportunities to realign your resources with what is needed in today’s environment.
Both new and experienced donors have become far more thoughtful about the time frame of their giving. And setting a use-by date for philanthropy has become a common consideration. Effective giving usually relies not just on how to decide to give, but for how long. All of which begs another question: How long should your family foundation or giving program last? This guide discusses some of the main ways to evaluate and set a time horizon for giving. Written for established and emerging philanthropists, it looks at four main options, including giving while living.