PHILANTHROPIC ADVISORY SERVICES. Philanthropic Guidance, When and How You Need It

Transcription

1 PHILANTHROPIC ADVISORY SERVICES Philanthropic Guidance, When and How You Need It

2 Take Action. Make Change. Whether you re just getting started with your private foundation, or your foundation has been in the family for generations, you might find yourself in need of some expert counsel and practical guidance. Perhaps you d just like to get more out of your foundation more satisfaction, more rewards, more impact. Foundation Source s Philanthropic Advisory Services were developed specifically to meet such needs. They re a one-stop resource for philanthropic expertise and support. And because our Philanthropic Directors, the experienced professionals who provide these services, are all in-house, we can offer expertise that s on call, not on your payroll. Having our Philanthropic Directors readily accessible to you means they re available to answer a question in real time, prepare for and facilitate a meeting on an important issue, build family consensus and support decision-making at a major turning-point, or customize a consulting engagement around a specific need.

3 The Foundation Source Difference We offer a distinctly different approach to Philanthropic Advisory Services because we re not a consulting fi rm we re private foundation specialists. Here s why that distinction matters: WE KNOW WHAT WORKS IN PRACTICE, NOT JUST IN THEORY We ve been administering private foundations for over 15 years, and we have over 1,300 clients. That experience enables us to offer solutions based on countless examples of helping clients who have addressed the same challenges as you. WE ALREADY KNOW YOU As a Foundation Source client, we know your foundation, its activities, and operations. So, when we offer a philanthropic solution, it s based on our understanding of your day-to-day operations. WE RE ORGANIZED TO SERVE ONLY YOU We re not distracted by managing and marketing a consulting fi rm. We re lean and autonomous, not freighted with organizational overhead that adds to your costs. WE VALUE YOUR TIME While traditional consulting fi rms may have a fi nancial incentive to lengthen engagements, our Philanthropic Advisory Services are offered as a component of our comprehensive support. Because our ultimate goal is your satisfaction, not billable hours, you get straightforward advice and actionable strategies that cut to the chase. WE ARE INVESTED IN YOUR SUCCESS Our ongoing relationship with you as a Foundation Source client is the biggest incentive we have to provide maximum value. We want you to succeed. Why wouldn t we? We want to keep you around. KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCE Our Philanthropic Advisory Services guide your foundation at every turn. STRATEGY PROGRESS IMPACT 01

4 INCLUDED SERVICES From the moment you become a Foundation Source client, the services of your Philanthropic Director are at your fi ngertips. Philanthropic Directors are seasoned experts who have years of experience advising the nation s largest, most prominent foundations and small family foundations alike. And they re available to provide the following types of assistance without any additional charge. PRELIMINARY GUIDANCE Arrange a call with your Philanthropic Director to discuss your foundation s philanthropic objectives and organizational challenges. Whether your newly formed foundation board is just beginning to contemplate its mission, or you want to learn more about planning for next generation succession, your Philanthropic Director can offer advice and best practices drawn from Foundation Source s direct experience administering over 1,300 foundations. ONGOING SOUNDING BOARD Is your board deadlocked over an upcoming funding decision and in need of an outside perspective? Want to bounce around a fresh idea or innovative strategy with someone who can offer useful feedback? Need a few quick tips for comparing grantee organizations? Making your fi rst major grant? Help from your Philanthropic Director is just a phone call or away. HANDPICKED CONTENT AND RESOURCES Would you like to have just the right resources curated for you? An Internet search can bring you millions of resources; your Philanthropic Director can bring you the one you actually need. Rather than sifting through endless articles, podcasts, books, and websites, you can rely on your Philanthropic Director to do the legwork. It s just one of the perks of being a Foundation Source client. FACILITATED INTRODUCTIONS There s no reason to waste fi nite resources reinventing the wheel. Your Philanthropic Director can introduce you to other funders working on your issue so you can learn from their experience; get to know the innovators, experts, and leading organizations in your area of interest; identify opportunities for collaboration and leverage points for advancing your mission; and lay the groundwork for your own success. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF GRANTEES Need help vetting a potential grantee or comparing the fi nancial health of several nonprofi ts working in the same space? Your Philanthropic Director can prepare an in-depth and standardized fi nancial report drawn from multiple years of grantee tax returns. GRANTMAKING PRACTICE Do you need a more systematic and organized process for reviewing grant requests? Would it make sense for your foundation to develop an application or receive requests by invitation only? When should you visit grantee organizations to view their work? What should you ask for in a grant monitoring report? How do you gracefully say no to grantseekers? Philanthropic Directors can answer these questions and help you become a more skillful and confi dent funder. 02

5 FEE-BASED ENGAGEMENTS When you need more support than a quick phone conversation or exchange can cover, your Philanthropic Director can provide anything from a presentation to a fully customized consulting engagement. Whether you want them to research a particular cause or issue, recommend a grantmaking strategy, or help you navigate a turning point, Philanthropic Directors have a right-sized solution for every foundation need. Below are some examples of what they can provide. LAUNCHING YOUR FOUNDATION Get a running start on your philanthropy! Your Philanthropic Director will introduce you to different grantmaking models and all the different IRS-sanctioned capabilities of your foundation beyond making grants. You ll learn to identify and evaluate nonprofi t organizations that can help you put these strategies in motion, and you ll complete your foundation s readiness with a review of best practices in governance, tips for avoiding rookie mistakes, and examples of innovative philanthropy undertaken by other Foundation Source clients. CRAFTING YOUR MISSION New to philanthropy and unsure where you want to focus? Is your established foundation taking a fresh look at its original mission due to a change in board membership, an infusion of capital, or new developments in your original fi eld of interest? Your Philanthropic Director can work with you to create (or revise) a mission, defi ne a focus and scope for your foundation, and develop goals and plans that align with available resources. TRANSITION PLANNING At some point in your foundation s lifecycle, you ll likely encounter a major transition point, such as: loss of a key family member or advisor; growth and geographic dispersion of family; succession to the next generation; or sudden increase (or decrease) in foundation assets. Your Philanthropic Director can help you develop a plan that will enable your foundation to take these changes in stride, ensure its stability, and maintain its effi cacy. BOARD MEETING FACILITATION We ve all attended less-than-productive meetings where a few voices dominate the discussion, the conversation meanders, and nothing gets accomplished. Your Philanthropic Director can help the board develop a productive agenda and facilitate discussions that result in clear decisions and actions. PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION FOR LEADERSHIP Create a solid plan for onboarding the next generation and preparing for leadership change. Your Philanthropic Director will bring together multiple generations to collaborate and future-proof your foundation. TAKING YOUR FOUNDATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL Even well-established foundations can benefi t from new ideas and inspiration. Whether engaging the next generation or trying out a new grantmaking approach, we can help your foundation do more than ever. Your Philanthropic Director can outline the essential characteristics of successful foundations and explain how to leverage your inherent strategic advantages. ENTREPRENEURIAL PHILANTHROPY The entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy can take you from doing good to solving problems. Your Philanthropic Director will show you how to leverage your skills, contacts, and creativity to move beyond traditional giving to bold solutions that can make a world of difference all while engaging your passion and vision. 03

6 CLIENT TESTIMONIALS Real clients, real issues, real results. Here s how our Philanthropic Advisors have helped foundations like yours. Nearing the 20 year anniversary of the foundation s inception, Edwards Mother Earth Foundation was facing a major shift in its strategic grant program. Our Philanthropic Advisor worked with EMEF to develop a detailed, practical transition plan that helped us successfully navigate this turning point without losing momentum or perspective on the history of the foundation. Her continuity of service has helped us to maintain a frame of reference even as family members cycle on and off the board. SUTTER WEHMEIER, PRESIDENT, EDWARDS MOTHER EARTH FOUNDATION When I took over the foundation established by my parents one of my goals was to manage the endowment differently, moving towards a more socially responsible approach. I learned about the impact investing movement through Foundation Source and its goals of achieving both social and financial returns. At my request, they provided relevant information in the form of books, articles, conferences, and personal introductions. It was a robust education for me, and I greatly appreciated having a knowledgeable and helpful guide throughout the process. ROBERTA GORDON, PRESIDENT, ROBERT AND IDA GORDON FOUNDATION While our family foundation has been in existence for close to 20 years, we were missing a defined strategic vision and board engagement plan. I worked with our Philanthropic Director on identifying issues, obstacles, and opportunities for the foundation and the board. She then facilitated a strategy session where we put all the pieces together, identifying areas where we felt we could have the greatest impact, articulating the goals for the foundation moving forward, and determining the roles and engagement of the individual board members. This reinvestment has not only made our granting more strategic and effective, but it has also created a greater sense of ownership and participation on the part of the board members. ALESSANDRA (ALI) MAYER, VICE PRESIDENT, THE MAYER-PHILLIPS FOUNDATION 04

7 Put Us to Work. Foundation Source Advisory Services can help you to take your philanthropy to a new level of effectiveness and enjoyment. Let us help you get more out of your giving, enabling you to have the foundation you always envisioned. For more information, or to book the services of your Philanthropic Director, contact your Private Client Advisor at

8 ABOUT FOUNDATION SOURCE Foundation Source is the nation s largest provider of comprehensive support services for private foundations. The company s administrative services, online foundation management tools, compliance, and philanthropic advisory services provide a complete outsourced solution, including the creation of new foundations. Our clients supply the vision; we provide everything else. Now in our second decade, Foundation Source provides its services to more than 1,300 family, corporate, and professionally staffed foundations, of all sizes, nationwide. We work in partnership with wealth management firms, law firms, accounting firms, and family offices as well as directly with individuals and families. Foundation Source is headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut. Have a question? Call or send us an at info@foundationsource.com. 55 Walls Drive, Fairfield, CT T F Foundation Source Philanthropic Services Inc. All rights reserved. v0917