Role for our purposes is not your position as president or committee chair; rather, it is how you choose to behave to match the needs of a situation. Everyone holds multiple roles, adopting them almost without thinking. For example, parents play an impressive list of roles in situations with their children: confidante, disciplinarian, advocate, chauffeur.... 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
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
Five years ago, Sy Schwartz announced to his three grown children in their fifties that he wanted them to start giving money away. He would supply the family foundation with $175,000 for them to give collectively. If they did a good job and got along well, the money would increase the next year. Schwartz was... Read More
American country music artist Barbara Mandrell sings that she was “country when country wasn’t cool.” For The McCarthy Charities, the lyrics would be this: “We were a family foundation, when family foundations weren’t cool,” or something to that effect. The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation—America’s oldest family foundation still in existence—is only 23 years... Read More
Exponent Philanthropy surveys our members regularly to learn about their grantmaking, governance, investments, and administration. We also learn what keeps our members up at night. What consistently tops the list? Succession, the crucial task of passing the leadership baton. Whether it involves the next generation, a new board member, or a new hire, successful succession... Read More