Creating Change Through Family Philanthropy: The Next Generation

by Alison Goldberg, Karen Pittelman

Overview

Creating Change Through Family Philanthropy explains how privilege works in our society, and how young people can use it to better society. Based on the authors’ experiences with Resource Generation, a national nonprofit working with wealthy young progressives, the book makes the case for addressing urgent social and economic needs financially. It frames controversial topics from power dynamics to grants payout in an accessible way, offering next-generation readers the tools they need to transform their funds. Drawing on over 40 interviews, this is an essential guide for both young philanthropists and anyone working with wealthy families interested in ethical giving.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933368092
Publisher:	Catapult
Publication date:	01/26/2007
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.04(w) x 8.96(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

Alison Goldberg joined Resource Generation's staff after the organization she created and directed, Foundations for Change, merged with RG. She has worked for a number of non-profits and within her own family's foundation to promote social and economic justice. Her previous publications include "Opportunity of a Lifetime: Young Adults in Family Philanthropy" for the National Center for Family Philanthropy's Passages Series and "Social Change Philanthropy and How It's Done" for Foundation News & Commentary. She lives in the Boston area.

Karen Pittelman is the author of Resource Generation's Classified: How to Stop Hiding Your Privilege and Use It For Social Change from Soft Skull Press and served as RG's first program coordinator. At 25 she dissolved her $3 million trust fund to co-found the Chahara Foundation, a fund run by and for low-income women activists in Boston. She lives in New York City.

Resource Generation is a national non-profit organization that works with young people with financial wealth who believe in social change. Since 1996, the organization has offered a variety of programs educating young funders about social change philanthropy. RG is located in New York City and led by a cross-class board and staff.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements     vii
Preface     xi
Family Philanthropy and Social Change
Introduction     3
Philanthropy for Wealthy Families     7
Philanthropy for Social Change     11
Where Does the Money Go?     15
How Are Grants Made?     21
Where the Rest of the Money Goes     25
How Long Will Family Philanthropy Exist?     29
Taking Action
Introduction to the Taking Action Section     35
Assess Where You're Starting     37
Improve Communication     45
Research Social Change     51
Shift the Funding     57
Assess Your Fund's Grantmaking     63
Transform the Grantmaking Process     69
Open Up the Decision-making Process     75
Assess Who Holds Power     83
Shift the Investments     91
Develop a Payout Plan     99
Share Your Philanthropic Power     105
Create an Action Plan     111
Conclusion     117
Appendix
What Is the Philanthropy Field?     121
Non-profit Organizations     123
Family Foundations     124
The Foundation Rulebook     125
FamilyFoundation Grantmaking     128
Donor-advised Funds     130
Charitable Trusts     131
How Young People Are a Part of Family Philanthropy     132
Resources     134