June 2010

An area of increasing interest in the philanthropy world is that of the “next generation”; that is to say, how a family can engage its younger members in philanthropy to great effect. To tackle this issue in depth, we have collaborated with Credit Suisse US to produce “Funding as a Family”; a paper featuring case studies with family members from the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, India and Brazil. One of the enduring features of family philanthropy is that, wherever the families are in the world, we see them face the same range of challenges and opportunities. Looking at the case studies in the paper, there are three themes that consistently emerge.

The first is that the desire of the parents that their children should be free-thinking and independent in their philanthropy. Whilst they are happy that their children become involved in their family's giving, it is important at the same time that they have a clear sense of the issues about which they are passionate and to which they want to contribute solutions. Secondly, there is a belief that family philanthropy is an excellent place to nurture professional skills. And, last but not least, there is a belief that family giving is an ideal forum to express a family's collective values and to crate intergenerational legacy.

The paper, which draws upon the wide range of available literature, provides practical guidance for a family seeking the best possible model for their giving. It is also a fascinating look at the many ways in which families work together to benefit the world around them. It can be found at the following link: www.instituteforphilanthropy.org/Family-White-Paper.pdf

We hope that you will enjoy reading it.