Family Philanthropy Conference: Navigating Transitions, Redefining Traditions

In the face of sustained crisis, the reins of tradition and legacy can stifle the creativity and innovation of many family foundations. As funders continue to adapt to developing circumstances and challenges, they have an opportunity to lean into emerging transitions to reassess and reimagine the traditions no longer serving their foundations and families. Our opening plenary panel will explore our conference’s central dichotomy of Navigating Transitions and Redefining Traditions. We are excited to welcome June Wilson, Executive Director of the Compton Foundation who will be in conversation with renowned philanthropists, Bernadette Glenn, President of the WHH Foundation and Carmela Castellano-Garcia, President of the Castellano Family Foundation. Our plenary speakers will share their personal experiences navigating a wave of emerging and varied transitions in the face of their foundation’s longest traditions. Through their stories and insights, our speakers will discuss the tension between transitions and traditions and how family foundations can work towards generative change for their families, foundation operations, and grantees.

Family foundation governance is changing at a rapid pace. Today, we see family members navigating a wave of transitions, including boards being called to be more inclusive and diverse, multiple generations reconciling shifts in power, and ideological differences straining relationships, causing inevitable divides. How do boards meet these varied transitions with sensitivity to family relationships while also acting in the best interest of the foundation and its grantees? What does good governance look like today, and how can staff and non-family members be supportive of these transitions? Join a panel of distinguished family philanthropy leaders who will share their experiences and insights in navigating their foundation's governance challenges and triumphs.

With a growing interest in aligning philanthropic capital with a foundation's mission, family funders today must make a wide range of decisions before getting started with impact investing. From selecting the appropriate financial instruments to establishing the right internal priorities to reconciling generational divides, family foundations must navigate challenging dynamics and internal shifts before they can rethink their investments for long-term impact. Join us to discuss the barriers multi-generational foundations face and the dialogues needed to accelerate impact investing.

Many family foundations take pride in their ability to be nimble and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve, especially during moments of crisis. Thus, binding oneself to a formal plan or submitting to a planning process can often feel restrictive for a foundation accustomed to being agile. This session will explore how family philanthropy can thoughtfully incorporate planning processes into their operations while protecting their ability to respond to urgent needs as they arise. Our panelists will share successes, challenges, and insights to help family funders understand why strategic planning is an essential and worthwhile endeavor for a foundation's work.

Family foundations are unique in that their family values and legacies shape their giving and foundation culture. Given how deeply embedded these traditions are in a foundation's work, family members, staff, and trustees need to regularly reflect on traditions to ensure they are advancing the foundation's mission and vision and not obstructing it. Moreover, moments of transition can serve as catalysts for this type of reflection. Whether your family foundation is experiencing generational and leadership changes internally or grappling with the many external challenges post-pandemic, our closing plenary will help you think about the role of traditions and the value of transitions in advancing your foundation's grantmaking.