Family foundations remain an important part of lean philanthropy. Whether fully family-led or supported by nonfamily board members and staff, they continue to influence their communities and giving priorities across generations. The 2026 Foundation Operations and Management Report (FOMR) offers new insight into how these foundations are structured and how they give. This year, 51%... Read More
The 2026 Foundation Operations and Management Report is available now! This is the only resource of its kind for foundations operating with few or no staff. The full Foundation Operations and Management Report offers key philanthropy benchmarks and long-term data on the evolution of lean foundations. Based on our annual survey of members, this report... Read More
The Holloway Family Foundation’s Annual Relay Grant is a streamlined, trust-based approach to grantmaking that places funding decisions directly in the hands of women nonprofit leaders of color. In 2020, several reports highlighted persistent disparities in philanthropic giving to women and girls of color, as well as inequities faced by organizations led by people of color... Read More
Engaging the next generation in philanthropy can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you’re thinking of children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or younger staff and board members, many foundations struggle to find meaningful ways to bring them into the fold. “The most important thing is to treat young people as equals at the board table,” says... Read More
Family foundations are a cornerstone of philanthropy, channeling generational wealth into impactful grantmaking and community initiatives. These foundations are often guided by the values, traditions, and priorities of a donor family, resulting in distinct governance structures, staffing patterns, and grantmaking approaches. Whether entirely family-run or including nonfamily board members, family foundations play a vital role... Read More
We’ve interviewed dozens of lean funders at various points during their equity journeys over the years. Through those conversations, emails, and a review of documents, policies, and practices, we were able to create a rough map of the lean funder’s equity journey. This journey has four phases: Thinking about equity Making policy changes Building trust... Read More