PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS / PHILANTHROPY

Private foundations face particular legal issues and challenges that must be managed by their executives and boards. Informed leaders can maximize the impact of their foundations in advancing their charitable missions. But they must carefully manage those issues and challenges that can expose the foundation and its leaders to penalties and damage to their public reputation, especially if the foundation is engaged in arrangements and transactions that involve potential or actual conflicts of interests. Careful planning is critical to building a strong and sound infrastructure to ensure the foundation’s ongoing effectiveness and legal compliance.

NCRP Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best

Published on: by Gene Takagi

In March 2009, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy ("NCRP"), an independent watchdog of foundations and institutional grantmakers, released the Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best:  Benchmarks to Assess and Enhance Grantmaker Impact.  NCRP claims that the Criteria is "the first ever set of measurable guidelines that will help foundations...

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Foundations Supporting Advocacy

Published on: by Emily Chan 2 Comments

Private foundations are subject to strong prohibitions on “direct” and “grassroots” lobbying, generally meaning any direct contact with a member of a legislative body regarding specific legislation and encouragement by the foundation to have individuals contact legislators to convey a position on specific legislation, respectively. However, as the Donor...

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Microphilanthropy

Published on: by Emily Chan

Microphilanthropy is a term that is being used more and more frequently. As one of the “top ten philanthropy buzzwords of 2007”, perhaps more attention needs to be paid to this emerging practice. The concept is similar to the notion behind the Grameen Bank. However, where microfinance talks of...

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