Diverse and Dispersed - National Forum on Family Philanthropy

Diverse and Dispersed:
Managing a Far-Flung Family
Berit Ashla, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Kelly Nowlin, Chair, Andrus Family Program, Surdna Foundation
Lisa Parker, President, Lawrence Welk Family Foundation
Sharmila Rao Thakkar, Executive Director, Siragusa Foundation
Today’s Goals
Tools, Stories, Actionable Ideas
Growing Pains…
• Age span
• Geographic dispersion
• Less connection to founder’s place of origin
• Multiple generations
• Disparate interests
• Communication differences and preferences
• Priorities
• Motivation
Bridging, Connecting, Sharing
Acknowledging Differences,
Finding Common Ground
Best Practices
 Balance in-person meetings that strengthen family ties with other longdistance involvement between meetings.
 Create active roles for board members in the foundation‘s work with
committees and task forces.
 Put time into building trust and relationships among board members
and with foundation staff.
 Incorporate expert knowledge from the field whenever possible – at
board meetings, on site visits, at conferences.
 Establish clear geographic grantmaking rules.
 Use matching grants, specific trainings, and other forms of engagement
to identify and incorporate board passions.
 Balance the foundation’s grantmaking mission and the desire to build
family ties.
 Honor different life stages; provide different pathways into the
foundation work.
Siragusa Foundation
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Established in 1950 by Ross Siragusa
Second Generation: 4 siblings (none on board)
Third Generation: 12 cousins (5 on board)
Fourth Generation: 7 cousins (3 on board)
3 non-family board members
40 eligible family members
The Welk Family
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Established in 1960
Founder: Lawrence Welk
Second Generation: 3 siblings
Third Generation: 10 cousins
Fourth Generation: 20 cousins
52 eligible family members
The Andrus Family & Surdna Foundation
• Founder: John Emory Andrus
• Established Surdna Foundation, 1917
• Six Generations, 487 extended family
members
• Andrus Family Fund was launched in 2000 to
engage members 25-45 years of age in public
service and philanthropy
Board Governance
Welk Family Foundation
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Board - 8 members and 1 non-family member
3-year terms, board criteria
Descendants and spouses board eligible
At least 1 member from each of the 3 family branches
Siragusa Foundation
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11 Board Members - 8 family members and 3 non-family
Renewable 3-year terms
No spouses. Dissolved “branch” structure and amended by-laws.
Surdna Foundation, Andrus Family Fund Program
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13 Board Members
Renewable 3-year terms (up to 4 times)
8 potential branches – 5 are currently on board
Orientation process
Engaging Across Geography & Difference
• If you are a foundation focused on a founder’s
place of origin and family has moved away –how
do you maintain connection to that region?
• What do you do at board meetings to encourage
connection and collaboration?
• How are you engaging family members between
board meetings?
• Do you have a range of ideologies on your board
that you need to navigate? How are you doing it?
Resources and Contact Information
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National Center for Family Philanthropy Publication
Purchase at www.ndfp.org Grantmaking With a Compass: The Challenges of Geography
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Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Guides
Download at http://roadmap.rockpa.org/guides/ guides that cover topics leading to more effective and
rewarding family philanthropy.
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The Center for Philanthropy at Indiana University Study
Download at https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/files/research/2011familyphilanthropybeyondbordersfinal.pdf
Family Philanthropy Beyond Borders: Best Practices for Family Foundations with Geographically Dispersed
Board Members
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21/64 “Picture Your Legacy” Tool
Purchase at http://2164.net/store/tool/picture-your-legacy this deck of 52 colorful image cards that guides
individuals, groups, and families toward articulating a legacy.
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Book Recommendations for Navigating Differences Among Trustees
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny
Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury
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Berit Ashla, [email protected]
Lisa Parker, [email protected]
Kelly Knowlin, [email protected]
Sharmila Rao Thakkar, [email protected]