Nonprofit sector collectively describes the institutions and organizations in American society that are neither government nor business. Nonprofit is a layperson’s term describing a range of organizations—including private foundations—that contribute to the public good. The nonprofit sector in the United States contains more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations comprising at least 7% of the U.S.... Read More
Documenting and sharing your story can guide those who lead the foundation now and in the future, articulate your goals to potential grantees and the public at large, and inspire all those who are touched by the foundation’s good work. How are Exponent Philanthropy members telling their stories? Keep it simple For Jane Leighty Justis,... Read More
Are you talking with your board and investment advisors about asset allocation? Concepts to consider A number of concepts should be understood before you tackle the important work of creating an investment policy and allocating assets. Investment time horizon How long do you want your foundation to exist? Do you plan for your foundation to... Read More
Whatever your family’s goals for its giving, these tools and practices can help along the way. Working with consultants Beyond tax, legal, and investment matters, consultants can help your family in a variety of areas, including: Strategic planning, such as crafting a mission statement or planning for evaluation Board development, such as creating policies or... Read More
Started in 1994 by Catherine Muther, a former Cisco Systems executive, Three Guineas Fund “promotes social justice by expanding access to economic opportunity for women and girls.” One would think that a mission so considerable requires a large staff and endowment, but Three Guineas Fund, with assets less than $6 million and only one full-time... Read More
By relying simply on stated fees, such as management fee or advisory fee, foundation trustees may be underestimating the full impact of the aggregate investment expenses because as there may be other components of investment costs that are not explicitly stated as fees. In the 1990s, when portfolio performance was beating the S&P 500, it... Read More