Family Philanthropy
Over the past several decades, the professionalization of philanthropy has helped many family foundations develop and evolve into more efficient and focused organizations—with clear missions, strong operating principles and practices, and measureable goals and outcomes. But this same care and attention is rarely afforded to the family members actually conducting the philanthropy.
At North Bridge, our focus is on the family side of family philanthropy: what are the vision, mission, objectives, and measurable outcomes for the family to consider for themselves. We work to uncover the roles and perspectives that different generations bring to the table, how they might perceive and define philanthropy, and how an understanding of the members’ individual and generational relationship to the family money can be just as important as where they choose to give it.
We call this approach the Flipped Foundation, because we flip the focus from the outcomes on the non-profit sector to the outcomes on the family.
At North Bridge, our focus is on the family side of family philanthropy: what are the vision, mission, objectives, and measurable outcomes for the family to consider for themselves. We work to uncover the roles and perspectives that different generations bring to the table, how they might perceive and define philanthropy, and how an understanding of the members’ individual and generational relationship to the family money can be just as important as where they choose to give it.
We call this approach the Flipped Foundation, because we flip the focus from the outcomes on the non-profit sector to the outcomes on the family.
Our goal is to help our clients develop a deeper understanding of the impact that family philanthropy
has on the family, and how managing that impact can ensure that a foundation continues to serve
the family instead of the other way around.
has on the family, and how managing that impact can ensure that a foundation continues to serve
the family instead of the other way around.