EngagedPhilanthropy
Dealing with Death and Transition – Family Dynamics Fixes
“If you think you’re enlightened, spend a weekend with your family.” – Ram Dass Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed a restful holiday season. I’ll admit: I have, what I like to call, a bit of a family hangover. It’s not been an easy week. I’ve been in Florida this past week, where…
Your Go-To Guide on Global Philanthropy
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, more families of wealth want to make an impact globally through their philanthropy and investments. This is greatly needed, as we humans and our planet are facing some of the most complex humanitarian crises of our time. Some family offices and funders shy away from international philanthropy. While cross-border…
Making the Most of Family Dynamics
In my work as a philanthropy advisor at Hammer & Associates, I meet with a lot of families who share stories about what it’s like to give as a family—with parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and/or siblings. As they make decisions together, they get to know and respect each other in new ways. They better…
Top 5 Family Dynamics in Philanthropic Families and What You Can Do About Them, FOE Spring 2017
Navigating philanthropic giving in families has its challenges. Even in the most successful families, misunderstandings, disagreements, and power struggles can and do occur. Whenever a family must make decisions together about money—whether it’s making money, keeping money, or giving it away—it can get tricky. Emotions run high and family members may react or revert back…
Planning Your Philanthropy in 2017: A Toolkit to Balance Passion and Strategy
Happy New Year! I hope you feel rested after the holiday break and rearing to go. I spent the break visiting with friends and family, reading Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills’ new novel “Order to Kill”, and finalizing a 2017 action plan for my business, philanthropic, and personal goals. If you are like many of my family…
Family Celebrating and a Gift to Find Balance
Happy holiday week! I have a gift for you (be sure to scroll down to open it). First, I have to ask: How are you and your family celebrating? What traditions did you grow up with that you now carry forward? I grew up in Summit, New Jersey, and in our family, we celebrated both…
Philanthropy Reading and a Ride
Is this summer flying by for you as it is for me? Mine started with an annual trip to London for the Global Family Office Forum conference at the Dorchester Hotel. It was wonderful to be back in London, see old friends, meet new colleagues, and learn about new trends in the family office world.…
Why Your Mission Matters
It almost goes without saying: whether you are a foundation, family office or individual donor, you need a clear mission statement. A mission is no guarantee you will change the world, but you can’t begin to do anything powerful and meaningful without it. You may think a mission statement may pigeonhole your giving, and that’s…
Starting a Values Conversation
“Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same, but you leave them all over everything you do.” ~ Elvis Presley The way to fulfillment in philanthropy—and by and large as a family—is the degree to which you are driven by purpose and shared values. In other words, why you give matters just as much, if…