2013 Family Philanthropy Conference

Archive for the ‘2013 Family Philanthropy Conference’ Category

Successful Launch of the Next Gen Donors Report at Family Conference is Just the Beginning

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference| Next Generation| Philanthropy

4 Feb 2013

It took many long hours—and hundreds of e-mails—to get to this point, but we finally, officially, proudly launched the Next Gen Donors report at last week’s Council on Foundations Family Philanthropy Conference in San Jose. This launch represents the culmination of more than a year of data gathering, analysis, writing, and preparation, all in order [...]

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How Can Your Philanthropy Bring Together Strategy and Justice for Greater Impact and a Better World?

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference| Philanthropy

29 Jan 2013

We as a field have become and are encouraged to become increasingly “strategic” in our efforts. There is literature on the subject; we hold conferences and conference sessions on it. But, for all this strategy, are we more effective as a result? I would say not as much as we could be.
In recent years, [...]

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Learning How to Evolve

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference

29 Jan 2013

“Family foundations evolve, so they need to be able to evolve.”—Kelin Gersick, author, Generations of Giving
As I participated in the preconference transitions workshop at this week’s Council on Foundations Family Philanthropy Conference in San Jose, I was struck by the simple truth of this statement. The life cycle of a family foundation is filled with [...]

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Grappling With Key Questions and Blazing New Trails

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference| My Giving Story| Philanthropy

29 Jan 2013

Earlier this month, I joined the Council on Foundations after following a rather unique road in government relations, the law, and public policy. I’ve worked in all three sectors: public, private, and now independent. From my perspective, this new opportunity—this leap of faith that I’ve taken—is tailor made for what I do well, which is [...]

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How One Backpack Can Help Change the World

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference

28 Jan 2013

This year’s Council on Foundations Family Philanthropy Conference is challenging those of us in family philanthropy to consider how systems thinking applies to our work. At the opening plenary, David Peter Stroh from Bridgeway Partners defined a system as “an interconnected set of elements organized to achieve something.” In a philanthropic context, systems thinking involves [...]

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Three I’s, an E, and a T

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference

28 Jan 2013

The central piece of the vision for the Council on Foundations 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference is found in our theme of “systems thinking.” To be most effective and find the right approaches given our capacities we need to understand how these systems are affecting the issues we care about, how to interact with those systems, [...]

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Relevance + Networking + Speed = Impact

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference| Family Philanthropy| Leadership| Media and Technology| Philanthropy

28 Jan 2013

It’s no accident that the Council on Foundations 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference takes place this week in Silicon Valley. This is Ground Zero for technological innovation. Ideas birthed here have changed—and continue to change—the world.
Silicon Valley has been the workshop of some brilliant entrepreneurs. People like Steve Jobs, William Hewlett, David Packard, eBay founder Pierre [...]

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Equity, Inclusion, and Family Foundations

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference| Diversity and Inclusion| Philanthropy

25 Jan 2013

At a pivotal historical moment, family foundations are poised to address matters of racial equity, inclusion, and diversity to enhance their impact. These concerns are central to any thematic area a family foundation would address in its programming. Health, education, income and wealth, and any range of other issues are characterized by persistent disparities among [...]

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Is Philanthropy More Effective Without the “Family Dynamics” in Family Foundations?

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference| Family Philanthropy| Governance| Philanthropy

23 Jan 2013

Blessed are the family foundations graced with harmonious board interaction, for they may be focused on their grantmaking. Running through case studies in preparation for our session at this month’s Council on Foundations Family Philanthropy Conference in San Jose, I am struck by the power of a grantmaking program rooted in community ties, family values, [...]

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Is Family Philanthropy Ready for “New Giving” Tools?

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference| Donor Engagement| Media and Technology| Next Generation| Philanthropy

11 Dec 2012

At next month’s Council on Foundations 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference, consultant Nathan James and I are hosting a session, “Is Family Philanthropy Ready for Adventures in New Giving?” We’ll be discussing potential intersections between family philanthropy and the new wave of giving tools enabled by technology and fueled by problem-solving approaches of millenials, entrepreneurs, and [...]

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Improving Lives, Building Communities

In: 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference| Family Philanthropy| Impact Investing| Philanthropy

29 Nov 2012

Despite having a steady job, a mom in South Carolina, who hopes to help her daughter go to college, cannot afford to pay rent in the city in which she works. A promising entrepreneur in Wisconsin has a great idea to improve his community but cannot get the loan needed to get his business off [...]