Warnings from donors on perpetual philanthropy
No matter how judiciously you populate your board of trustees with trusted colleagues, there is no firm legal barrier to significant drift in the mission of your perpetual foundation.
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ACTA Higher Ed Now Podcast: Joanne Florino, August 2020
Emily Koons Jae: So Joanne, welcome, and thank you so much for joining us today on Higher Ed Now. And thank you so much for writing this wonderful new book Read more…
The risks of a charitable trust: the Jackson Family Trust
The struggles of the John E. and Sue M. Jackson Family Trust over the past decade demonstrate how vulnerable charitable trusts can be to violations of donor intent. John and Read more…
Seven keys to protecting your intent in a charitable trust
If you choose a charitable trust as a philanthropic vehicle, here are some basic guidelines to protect donor intent: 1. Be certain of your mission Keep in mind that the Read more…
Choosing a non-operating private foundation: Protecting donor intent in not-for-profit corporations
Creating a charitable trust for your private foundation carries significant advantages for donor intent, but it’s not the only option. Establishing a not-for-profit corporation offers more flexibility than a trust. Read more…
How Dan Searle protected his donor intent with a mission statement
Dan Searle understood the value of a strong mission statement, one that conveyed not only his philanthropic goals but the values and philosophy behind his intent. Searle’s story is also Read more…
Five grantmaking principles and practices to protect your donor intent
Grant compliance is an important concern for all donors. It’s particularly so for givers with well-defined values and mission statements. If that describes you, this article covers five principles and Read more…
Four steps to hire the right staff at your foundation
Your mission is only as strong as your people. Selecting your trustees is the first step, but even the best board won’t counterbalance a staff that’s unaligned with your mission.
Should you choose a private operating foundation for your philanthropy?
Operating foundations are the best choice if you have a very specific philanthropic goal that few—if any—charities are fulfilling. With this option your foundation funds its own charitable services and Read more…
Should you choose a philanthropic LLC for your charity?
If you seek maximum flexibility in your philanthropy, consider bypassing the tax-exempt route and forming a for-profit limited-liability company (LLC). The benefits of LLCs in charitable work are numerous: wider Read more…
Where should you incorporate your foundation?
Laws governing trusts and not-for-profit corporations vary from state to state. Choosing a home for your foundation can be important in protecting donor intent. Delaware is generally the preferred jurisdiction Read more…
Should you choose a donor-advised fund for your philanthropy?
Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are one of the simplest ways to protect your charitable intent. These funds originated within community foundations as a way for donors to create individual philanthropic accounts Read more…
Should you choose a community foundation for your philanthropy?
More than 800 community foundations operate in the United States, serving areas large and small. What all community foundations share is a long-term commitment to their place, through the pooling Read more…
Is a philanthropic partnership the right choice for your charity?
A philanthropic partnership could help your charitable dollars go further. A typical philanthropic partnership involves a third-party intermediary bringing funders together through a portfolio approach. Examples include the Charter School Read more…
Should you use a supporting organization for your philanthropy?
Supporting organizations (SOs) are, at first glance, attractive tools for donors who value simplicity, and seek an ongoing, perhaps multi-generational, relationship with the charity to be supported. Broadly defined, an Read more…
Eighteen questions to ask prospective board members
At the heart of good governance, reminds Virginia Esposito of the National Center for Family Philanthropy, is “building the board your foundation deserves.”
Is a tiered structure the right choice for your board?
The question of donor intent should be in the front of your mind when choosing a board. But donor intent is only part of the equation. Your board will need Read more…
Four tips to plan for board succession
It’s one thing to pick board members you know and trust while you’re living. It’s another to plan successfully for board succession after you’ve passed. Donor-intent violations often occur during Read more…
Should you compensate your board members?
Compensating your board has both advantages and disadvantages. This article explores them from the perspective of donor intent. Board compensation is one means of tapping individual self-interest for the purpose Read more…
Eight board policies to protect your donor intent
After you create a plan for recruiting, training, and retaining strong members for your board of directors, what’s the next step? It is to establish powerful operational board policies to Read more…