For Families
Making family philanthropy work
Family philanthropy can involve multiple generations. Philanthropic traditions are usually started by older family members, but they may be thinking about how to engage younger members in a way they also find meaningful and rewarding. That can bring challenges unless efforts are made to involve everyone in aligning on shared values, priorities and interests.
Just as succession planning is key for family businesses, it it also important for family philanthropy.
How we can help
Every family situation is unique, so we start with developing a clear understanding of your family's philanthropic history, current approach and goals for the future. We then engage all those who will be involved with future plans in a way that will allow the family to identify shared values and align on purpose, goals and process. This involves a range of one-on-one and group exercises that are designed to bring families together around shared ambitions related to philanthropy.
Benefits
Engaging younger generations of your family in a meaningful way now will allow you and them to avoid stress later. You will feel confident about preserving your family's legacy, while they will feel true ownership and motivation to carry it on, in a way that is also meaningful to them.
-
Identify motivational values held and shared by all family members
-
Paint a picture of the ideal legacy you and your family wants to build or continue
-
Identify the areas of passion and issues of greatest interest related to supporting community or society
-
Clarify the purpose and goals of your philanthropy
-
Develop an initial criteria of set of guidelines to inform philanthropic decision making
-
Decide on the processes and structure by which the family will work together to achieve its goals