Today’s young people come to philanthropy via many paths—not only by way of their families’ charitable giving. For example, with a combined decade of experience in philanthropy, teens Sarah Saltzman and Luke Sturtz don’t come from families with foundations or formal giving vehicles. They plugged into philanthropy through school and community. Sarah grew up volunteering... Read More
By the time young people reach their teens, they are trying to develop their own identities and often prefer spending time with peers. Parents can help guide their teens’ philanthropic interests, but not dictate them. If teens aren’t interested in engaging in philanthropic activities with their families, parents may find opportunities for teens to do... Read More
My family and I are dedicated philanthropists. We work hard to maximize the impact of our philanthropic dollars across a wide range of social issues. My passion is children’s health. This area of medical research and care is often overlooked or underfunded, and yet the unmet needs are great. As a survivor of brain cancer... Read More
Many young philanthropists ask themselves early on, Am I doing this right? It is understandable that emerging leaders may feel underprepared. They often are the youngest or newest member of a board or staff, sometimes just starting their professional journeys. But something more powerful than age or experience is also at work: Almost to a... Read More
Next generation philanthropy. No matter how you define the next generation, many foundations struggle to engage this subset into their philanthropy. “The most important thing is to treat young people as equals at the board table,” says Susan Price from the National Center for Family Philanthropy. “They don’t know everything the older generation knows, but... Read More
“Our foundation had succession planning thrust upon us,” shares John Valliant, president of the Grayce B. Kerr Fund. “We had been talking about succession for some time, and then we were blindsided by illness and death.” Fortunately, not every foundation faces such sudden and tragic events. But experiences of this nature are profound reminders of... Read More