Family Foundations

Family foundations play an important role in philanthropy in San Diego. San Diego Grantmakers is committed to supporting opportunities for networking as well as providing resources to family foundations.

Connecting
If you would like to contact a family foundation colleague in the San Diego region please call San Diego Grantmakers at (619)744-2180 or search our member directory.

Resources from the Lending Library
SDGrantmakers' lending library materials are available to members for a 2 week check out period. The following resources are recommended reading for family foundations. Please contact SDGrantmakers to check out materials (619)744-2180 or sharla@sdgrantmakers.org.

Trends in Family Foundation Governance, Staffing and Management, Fourth Edition
This book addresses a broad cross section of issues that face family foundations, such as asset management, board composition, governance issues, grantmaking issues, and staffing, salaries and benefits.

Top 10 Ways Family Foundations Get into Trouble
This booklet outlines common mistakes that are easy to avoid once one knows where to look and when to ask for help. Here the 10 biggest mistakes are pointed out.

Family Foundations and the Law: What You Need to Know, Third Edition
This book covers many of the important legal issues in running a family foundation-- starting a family foundation, rules for charitable deductions, the excise tax on investment income, the rules against self-dealing, and the 5 percent minimum payout requirement.

The Succession Workbook: Continuity Planning for Family Foundations
This workbook outlines the working aspects of planning for succession, including planning a retreat, passing on the mission and vision, developing leaders for the future, and troubleshooting.

Resources for Family Philanthropy: Finding the Best People, Advice, and Support
This book is full of useful resources and samples, such as working with consultants, choosing legal and investment advisors, sample job descriptions, investment policy statements, and letters of request and engagement.

The Giving Family: Raising our Children to Help Others
This resource gives stories and examples of unique and productive ways that families and organization have taught young people about the value of philanthropy.

Links

Online Resources for Family Foundations.
There are a number of valuable Internet resources aimed at helping family foundations. Following is a list of useful Websites.

This site from the Foundation Center has a long list of resources with a description, broken down by the following categories: Starting a Foundation; Management; Grantmaking; Inclusiveness; Ethics; Intergenerational Issues; Donor Legacy; Family Issues.

The Institute for Family Foundations offers services such as strategic planning, grant administration, reporting and compliance, investment services and sample reports. These services are outlined on their website.

National Center for Family Philanthropy - This is an extensive resource devoted to family philanthropy. The National Center conducts research and offers programs and educational materials.

The Council on Foundations has resources for family foundations including a family foundation conference, facts and figures, publications, resources for trustees and board members, principles and practices for effective grantmaking, as well as legislative updates.

To view other foundation links please click here.