Yes! These conference sessions specifically address family foundations:
Thursday, November 14, 2024
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
SESSION: Seeking Independent Directors for Family Foundations
Many family foundations find themselves ready to bring on an independent, non-family board member to participate in decision-making. Independent directors can add immense value through issue area expertise, lived experience, financial acumen, community representation, diversity, thought partnership, and an even keel amidst family dynamics. But how do families identify what their board needs? Find the right individual? Onboard them effectively? Share decision-making power? Create a more inclusive culture? Let’s dive into practical tools and real lessons learned from seeking, selecting, onboarding, and making the most out of an independent director.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore tools for identifying the expertise, experience, and qualities sought in an independent director for a family foundation
- Restate options for recruiting, vetting, and selecting independent directors
- Identify governance structures and approaches that help organize a growing board and foster a healthy organizational culture
This session is supported by The Philanthropic Initiative.
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
SESSION: Engaging Family Members Through Inquiry and Action
How do foundation staff and family create a pipeline of engaged family members? Explore a framework that engages family from age five through adulthood and begin to apply the framework at your foundation. Learn specific ways to inspire inquisitiveness and nurture continual learning, while strengthening relationships between family and nonprofit partners. Use the framework to engage any family member, whether or not they will serve on the board.
Learning Objectives:
Name eight ways to engage family members in the foundation’s work and desired outcomes
- Tailor the family engagement framework to your family foundation’s unique interests
- Deploy proven strategies that consider family members’ individual interests while honoring the foundation’s mission
- Recognize effective co-leadership for the board chair and staff to build family member inquiry and spark action
Still have questions?
Members can access staff experts through our Q&A service by calling 202-580-6560, or post a question to the member community to hear form peers in the field.
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