Family foundations and giving families
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Friends of the Family
$1,000 - $9,999
per year (billed annually), depending on foundation size (suggested contribution)
Join
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Leadership Circle
$10,000 or more
per year (billed annually)
Join
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Note: The following list of benefits are available only to Friends who make contributions of $1000 or more. |
Note: The following list of benefits are available only to Friends who make contributions of $10,000 or more. |
Priority invitations and discounts to the National Forum on Family Philanthropy, Trustee Education Institute, Family Foundation CEO Retreats, and other special events |
Priority invitations and discounts to the National Forum on Family Philanthropy, Trustee Education Institute, Family Foundation CEO Retreats, and other special events |
Opportunity for customized staff webinar presentations for your board |
Personal access to the Office of the President for consultation and advice, and the opportunity for customized annual president's webinars for your board |
Access to peer networks and discussions, including the non-family staff peer network |
Access to peer networks and discussions, including the non-family staff peer network |
Direct line to NCFP staff for up to 5 requests for information per year, including complimentary referrals for staff-screened consultants and advisors, and referrals to family foundation peers facing similar dilemmas and issues in family giving |
Direct line to NCFP staff for unlimited requests for information per year, including complimentary referrals for staff-screened consultants and advisors, and referrals to family foundation peers facing similar dilemmas and issues in family giving |
Complimentary usage of NCFP's Pursuit of Excellence board self-assessment tool for family foundations ($2500 value!) |
Complimentary usage of NCFP's Pursuit of Excellence board self-assessment tool for family foundations ($2500 value!) |
Ability to post job openings on the NCFP Job Board |
Ability to post job openings on the NCFP Job Board |
Ability to share updates about your work via our monthly "Friends Focus" column in Family Giving News |
Ability to share updates about your work via our monthly "Friends Focus" column in Family Giving News |
Invitation to share your voice and perspectives with your peers via the "Voices from the Field" column in Family Giving News |
Invitation to share your voice and perspectives with your peers via the "Voices from the Field" column in Family Giving News |
Unlimited login accounts to Knowledge Center for your board and staff members |
Unlimited login accounts to Knowledge Center for your board and staff members |
Access to 12 webinars a year (up to 20 phone lines) (view sample webinar on "Demystifying Decision-making for Family Foundation Boards") |
Access to 12 webinars a year (up to 20 phone lines) (view sample webinar on "Demystifying Decision-making for Family Foundation Boards") |
Access to 150+ webinar replays, transcripts, and handouts |
Access to 150+ webinar replays, transcripts, and handouts |
Complimentary copies of all Passages Issue Briefs and special NCFP reports (see sample Passages on "Next Gen Boards") |
Complimentary copies of all Passages Issue Briefs and special NCFP reports (see sample Passages on "Next Gen Boards") |
Access to Generations Together, NCFP's curated online collection of activities and resources for engaging children and the next generation |
Access to Generations Together, NCFP's curated online collection of activities and resources for engaging children and the next generation |
20% NCFP pubs discount |
20% NCFP pubs discount |
Top 10 reasons to join
Family philanthropy improves the quality of life for all. As a philanthropist, you open the door to a world of possibilities. That’s why we provide the resources, expertise and networking opportunities necessary to inspire you every step of the way on your philanthropic journey. Becoming a Friend of the Family will give you access to the tools and resources you need to make great things happen:
- Connect with peers and other families…so that you may discuss sensitive issues in a safe learning environment
- Access more than 2000 reports, articles, webinars, issue briefs, podcasts, and sample policies and practices for family philanthropy…to stay informed
- Prepare for and navigate key transitions in family giving…to ensure the continuity of your grantmaking
- Stay connected to top trends in the field of family philanthropy…to have perspective on your impact
- Enhance and refine your philanthropic strategies and structures…to transform your values and vision into effective giving
- Learn ways to focus on your family’s shared philanthropic values … so that you may enjoy success and personal fulfillment while building stronger relationships within your family
- Encourage and support the giving of other families…to keep the field of family philanthropy vital and important
- Share your commitment and belief in the value and potential of family philanthropy… help to inspire and grow a new generation of donors
- Join a national network of giving families… who are working together to maximize their impact
- Make a lasting difference in the communities and causes your care most about…to make the world a better place
You're in good company
Testimonials
NCFP is a great investment in our family leadership, allow us to access and learn alongside other family foundations. NCFP helps us raise the bar and remain relevant, flexible and creative.
Among the many philanthropy-related associations, I find NCFP the most relevant for my work. Working with a family requires a unique set of skills that I'm constantly challenged to keep honing. NCFP helps me do just that, connecting me to useful resources and talented people in the field.
The value of NCFP to the Sobrato Family Foundation is not just its commitment to supporting best practices and effective operations among new and existing family foundations, but its commitment to supporting collective engagement and sustainable impact by building the field at-large.
The National Center for Family Philanthropy is an essential resource to our field. NCFP offers valuable data on best practices and national trends, and provides customized support as needed.
Most of the education that I received about being a trustee came from my research on your website and also through many talks with the amazing staff at NCFP. Thanks for all that you do! You have changed the way I think about our family foundation and its potential to impact the community.
NCFP has been a great Friend of our Family! Their staff, written materials, website resources, and opportunities to network have been invaluable to our foundation, and to me in my role as Executive Director, Trustee, and family member.
I can't say enough about the quality of materials I find on the website and the thoughtful interactions I have had with NCFP staff members in brainstorming our foundation's challenges! I find the Nonfamily Staff Peer Network to be a highlight of my work.
NCFP is the most reliable source for any information related to family involvement in philanthropic giving.
From the basics of family foundation governance to keeping up on the cutting edge of private philanthropy developments and trends, NCFP's newsletters, Knowledge Center, publications and timely forums and conferences are invaluable in the administration of our Foundation and in educating all trustees who serve on the Board. I highly recommend NCFP as an indispensable association partner.
I can't thank you enough for all the help that you and the entire NCFP team have given us over the years. Even if one day we were to achieve such a level of professionalism that we didn't need NCFP, I hope we would continue to be Leadership Circle members so we can pay forward the tremendous support you've given us. I don't know where we'd be if it weren't for the Center. Every family foundation should avail themselves of your assistance. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Working with NCFP has been a unique experience for me. While I’ve worked with many other associations and affinity groups, I’ve never had the pleasure of working with one that was so accessible, knowledgeable, and helpful.
NCFP is critical to our sector. The team creates and provides the latest in research, pushes our field toward excellence and makes connections throughout family philanthropy for trustees, the next generation and staff.
At every step of our development from a local foundation with a global vision to a global foundation with local interests, we have worked hard to remain true to our familial roots. Many of the tools we have used to stay the course have come from our friends and colleagues at the National Center for Family Philanthropy, an organization with unparalleled insight into the issues on which it focuses. NCFP is unique in its ability to assist both newly-formed family foundations as well as the much larger family enterprises that are increasingly coming onto the scene.
Year after year, the National Center for Family Philanthropy demonstrates why it continues to deserve its reputation for being one of the most highly regarded resources for donor families and the advisors who support them. This organization has built an impressive body of knowledge that helps articulate the value of family philanthropy to society.
NCFP is the premiere organization for family foundations and donor advised funds in the country. Their work and advice embraces every kind of family and surrounds them with all the expertise and encouragement to help them become outstanding grantmakers.
When I applied for my current position at the Lumpkin Family Foundation, although I had loads of nonprofit experience, I didn’t fully understand what life would be like in a family foundation. In preparation for the interview I gathered up and studied several of the Passages papers. After the interview, several seach committee members commented that I seemed to have a remarkable appreciation for the workings of their foundation and what family means to it. Credit really goes to NCFP.
FAQs
Who is eligible to become a Friend of the Family?
Those eligible for the Friends of the Family Network include family foundations, donor advised funds, and individual philanthropists who give grants of $100,000 or more per year. Friends share our commitment to the value of family philanthropy and our belief that it should be encouraged and sustained.
As a member of my local regional association, which is currently a Family Philanthropy Online Partner, am I considered an NCFP Friend of the Family?
No, a Friend is a different type of NCFP supporter. While you may receive complimentary access to NCFP's Knowledge Center and webinars through your regional association membership, that membership does not provide you with the added benefits of being an NCFP Friend. As thanks for their direct support of NCFP, Friends receive additional benefits as outlined above, including direct access and support from NCFP staff, steep discounts to seminars and forums, enhanced technical support, consultant referrals, discounts on publications, and participation in special NCFP Peer Networks (see below for details).
Why should I support NCFP as a Friend if I can access much of your content from other sources?
We are proud that our partner subscriber program ensures we get good information on family philanthropy out to tens of thousands of family funds and foundations of every size and structure. We are also proud that we support the subscribers – like regional associations and community foundations – by enhancing their ability to serve their donor families. But to ensure we make this access affordable, our nonprofit subscription fee is low and covers only the costs of maintaining subscriptions. Our Friends of the Family support us for many reasons, including:
- Priority invitations and discounts to the National Forum on Family Philanthropy, Trustee Education Institute, Family Foundation CEO Retreats, and other special events;
- The opportunity for customized staff webinar presentations for your board and staff;
- Access to peer networks and discussions, including the non-family staff peer network;
- A direct line to NCFP staff for up to 5 requests for information per year, including complimentary referrals for staff-screened consultants and advisors, and referrals to family foundation peers facing similar dilemmas and issues in family giving; and
- Complimentary usage of NCFP's Pursuit of Excellence board self-assessment tool for family foundations ($2500 value!)
Friends receive additional benefits, while also supporting NCFP's groundbreaking research and resources. We are the only national nonprofit whose sole mission is to do just that. The costs of developing our research, programs, and publications must be covered by the NCFP budget. In providing direct support to NCFP as a Friend of the Family or Leadership Circle member, you not only express your support for the services we make available to your staff, board, and family members, you make sure we are always here to make those resources happen.
Finally, as a “member of the Family,” you’ll enjoy the personal support of our staff team whenever you need us!
How long is the Friends of the Family contribution for?
Your contribution is good for 12 months from the time you contribute.
Do you offer demos of the Knowledge Center and other services affiliated with a Friends of the Family donation?
Yes, please contact Maureen Esposito to arrange for a demo or tour.
Who may use the Knowledge Center username and password?
Access to the Knowledge Center is available to all staff and trustees of the foundation or the fund. NCFP will generate a username and password for the foundation that can be shared with staff and trustees. All will use the same username and password.
In addition, all staff and trustees, wherever they may be located, can receive access to our monthly webinars.
May I speak with other foundation representatives about their experiences as a Friend of the Family?
Yes, please contact Maureen Esposito who will put you in touch with a colleague. You may also wish to review the testimonials on the Friends of the Family information page.
How do I pay the Friends of the Family contribution?
There are two options. The first option is to complete the online application form and pay using your credit card on the website. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility to become a Friend of the Family please contact NCFP first. There is a $100 service fee if refunds are necessary.
The second option is to complete the on-line Friends of the Family form and include a check and mail it to our offices at: 1667 K Street, NW, Suite 550, Washington, DC 20006.
I don’t remember my username or password. What should I do?
Your user name is your email address. If the system does not recognize your username, please contact NCFP at 202.293.3424 and ask a member of our staff to confirm that you are a current Friend of the Family with access to the Knowledge Center. To recall your password, use the “forgot password” function visible when you attempt to login into the Knowledge Center.
The NCFP website requires that I use my email address as my username for access to the Knowledge Center. Will you use this email address in any other way?
No – we will not use an email given to us for access to the Knowledge Center for any other purpose. Please note: it is highly likely that your email address is already in our system because you are a current subscriber to our Family Giving News monthly e-newsletter. Additionally, if you sign up for a webinar, we will notify you of future webinars which also makes it easier for you to register. You may opt-out of future NCFP emails at any time by clicking on "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email.