By following a few simple steps to create an orientation that is both effective and engaging, you can give your new trustees the tools they need. Here’s how. See also the publication Bringing on the Board: Practical Steps for Orienting Foundation Board Members >> Set your goals If you define your goals before designing the... Read More
Great board meetings are achievable. Following a few legal requirements plus tried-and-true strategies can create an environment and a process for efficient, enjoyable foundation board meetings. Legal requirements For incorporated foundations, different states have different legal requirements for: Notice—States regulate how much notice needs to be given of meetings, and in what format. Typically this... Read More
If your board becomes geographically dispersed, don’t let it daunt you. With the challenges come opportunities to fine-tune your foundation and address the dispersion in creative ways. Strategy 1: Revisit your foundation’s mission Geographic dispersion is a much bigger challenge than just keeping trustees in touch. It often calls into question the future of your... Read More
The National Center on Family Philanthropy (NCFP) finds that most donors don’t begin to think about succession in the earliest days of the foundation. Even donors with adult children at the time of start-up tend to delay thinking about the children’s involvement until a much later time. In both cases, the delay can be a... Read More
A well-run board retreat energizes people and propels your foundation forward. Unfortunately, many board members approach retreats with about as much enthusiasm as a trip to the dentist. This dread often is justified: Lack of preparation, hidden agendas, or unproductive communication can make a retreat seem like a big step backward for the foundation. The... Read More
For more than a century, philanthropists have debated whether a foundation should exist in perpetuity. Attitudes on this issue likewise vary among Exponent Philanthropy members. The following aims to provide a balanced summary of both arguments. Continue in perpetuity Donor intent—Many foundations were created to exist in perpetuity; spending now would go against the donor’s... Read More