A goal of retreats – and indeed of family foundations – is to ensure that everyone is engaged.

Foundation leadership, the senior generation and staff are clearly the best informed and most conversant with the foundation – the nonprofit environment, the grantmaking milieu, the finances, the logistics – you name it. Leadership and staff often wish to seize the opportunity of having the board together at a retreat to educate, expound and explain. While well meaning, the desire to educate has to be done carefully so as not to inadvertently restrict others’ participation.

Read the full article about hearing out family members by Karen Green at the National Center for Family Philanthropy.