How far can we push you?

With that question, raised by a Fellow in the first few minutes of our formal launch meeting for the new class of fellows of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP), it became clear we had selected the right group of leaders to help us move the organization and the field of family philanthropy forward. As NCFP centers the principles of effective family philanthropy and reflects on how to embed equity, accountability, reflection and learning, and healthy relationships throughout our work, we know that we will only be successful as part of a community—a community that includes partners who are willing to push us and to co-create new approaches, thought leadership, and tools to support family philanthropists.

In February, our newest Fellows and NCFP staff convened in San Francisco for a retreat and the official launch of their fellowship. The purpose of this convening was to begin to build community with each other, review each Fellow’s proposed workplan for the next two years, ground the Fellows in NCFP priorities, and begin to identify points of intersection and cross-over between the Fellows’ work and NCFP’s programs.

Throughout our discussions, the Fellows pushed us to think deeper and harder, and to ensure that throughout the work we do we keep community voices and concerns centered. They challenged us to keep asking questions, and to continue to question old assumptions.  

In a wide-ranging conversation, we began to outline some of the questions the Fellows and NCFP will take on in the coming year. We don’t expect to find all the answers but are excited to begin to tackle and hold these questions.

What are the roles of humility and vulnerability in philanthropy?

If families are to be in right relationship with their grantee partners, their communities, and indeed with other family members, how can they approach those relationships with authenticity, humility, and vulnerability? How can we, as a field get better about admitting to and learning from mistakes?

What is the role of family in family philanthropy?

Family relationships and engagement are at the center of what makes family philanthropy unique. Families seeking to practice  effective philanthropy can both benefit from and potentially be hindered by those relationships; the work of navigating internal family dynamics can build strong relationship-building muscles that can benefit work with grantee partners. However, families cannot see their philanthropy solely as a vehicle for family engagement. Family togetherness isn’t a charitable purpose and should never overshadow the work of the philanthropy to make a difference in the broader world. At the same time, we can’t separate family from family philanthropy. Therefore, families must reflect on how to balance the internal focus on family engagement with the work of developing their philanthropic knowledge and building deep, trusting relationships with their grantee partners and communities.  

Read the full article about asking the bold questions in family philanthropy by Miki Akimoto and Nicholas A. Tedesco at the National Center for Family Philanthropy.