Category Archives: Next Generation

Dec 31 2012
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Family, Jack Siragusa, Next Generation

Respect Tradition and Look Towards the Future

By Jack Siragusa, Siragusa Foundation

Jack-SiragusaBack in 2002, my beloved alma mater, the University of Miami, began a campaign centered on their highly successful football program. The title read: “Respect Tradition and Look Towards the Future.”

The slogan was in homage to the star players and coaches that took a small private university to a nationally recognized football powerhouse with 5 national titles in the span of 20 years. The hope was to continue building upon the success of years past while growing and evolving with the ever-changing landscape of college football.

Fast forward 10 years, the slogan still resonates with me. Not for football though, but for foundations.

For those fortunate enough to be involved with a family foundation or a non-profit that gives back in any way, the story is often similar. An individual or group starts the foundation with a vision of the greater good and an inherent mission. Over time, as the foundation grows and the originator phases out, there are new decision makers that enter the arena. Continue reading →

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Dec 10 2012
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Danielle Oristian York, Next Generation

Harnessing the Power of Questions in Your Philanthropy

By Danielle Oristian York, 21/64

Danielle will be a featured speaker on the ASF webinar, Multiple Generations at the Table, on Wednesday, December 12 at 1 p.m. ET.

In philanthropy, wisdom equals impact. And those philanthropic institutions with the largest impact are those with the strongest, clearest mission. Yet creating that singular vision is no easy task. Many foundations are led by a diverse group of executives and trustees, all coming from different backgrounds and generations, maintaining their own unique viewpoints and values.

Multiple Generations in Philanthropy

We at 21/64, a nonprofit consulting firm that focuses on multi-generational philanthropy, have found that the simple power of asking questions can help organize these voices into a clear and meaningful vision. Continue reading →

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Oct 07 2012
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Next Generation, Niki Calastas

Finding ‘Our People’ at the ASF Next Generation Retreat

ASF Next Generation Retreat
 
By Niki Calastas, Hurliman Scholarship Foundation

When was the last time you were surrounded by people you’ve never met and then, after spending 6 hours together, realized you had found your peer group?  

At the Next Generation Retreat session of the ASF 2012 National Conference, many of us departed having found ‘our people’, feeling more energized, supported, and not alone in our feelings. Held on Saturday, October 6, the retreat brought together 40 young trustees preparing themselves for involvement in their family’s foundation.  

Lending to the session aims of inclusion and flexibility, the retreat was held inside of the SF Chronicle Building, at The Hub.  When not being used by the Next Gen Committee, The Hub provides a community workspace for entrepreneurs and holds 20 private offices held by social enterprises, including Universal Giving, Bamboo Finance, SOCAP, and B Labs.  The space also features an art gallery, large event spaces, meeting rooms, and two kitchens (let us not dismiss the importance of food!).
The retreat began with participants standing and gathering in a circle to introduce themselves and then moving around the room for a ‘spectrum exercise’.  Continue reading →
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Jul 25 2012
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Danielle Oristian York, Next Generation

Philanthropcapitalism: A Next Generation Take on Philanthropy

By Danielle Oristian York, 21/64

Philanthropy is a sector of society that has long been drenched in tradition and social obligation; leave the risk-taking and creativity to the capitalist masses. Today, however, the conventional definitions of business versus philanthropy have been turned upside down by a new cohort of next generation donors who are actively seeking to blur the line between these two sectors. Members of Generation X and Generation Y (or the Millennials) are under 40 and full of innovative ideas about how the worlds of business and philanthropy can work together to create an even greater good.

Social Entrepreneurship
An entirely new class of business leaders has developed out of the school of thought that being good for humanity is not only good business, but also good for business. Social entrepreneurs are defined by Businessweek as “enterprising individuals who apply business practices to solving societal problems.” Huge names in business such as Tom’s Shoes and Ethos Water are proving that profit and charity are not ideological enemies but harmonious cousins. Continue reading →

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Jul 12 2012
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Family, Next Generation, Sara Beggs

Engage your family in giving? Friends might be key.

By Sara Beggs, ASF

If you’re passionate about giving, it’s likely you want your own kids to follow suit. Isn’t that one of the key reasons family foundations are created? And, while some people want their kids to care about a particular cause, many donors simply want their children and grandchildren to care about something. Anything.

Whether you have millions to give away or something significantly smaller, teaching kids to care about something other than themselves is a worthwhile cause. As an ASF staff member, I don’t have IRS regulations demanding that I give out 5% a year, nor do I have millions of dollars to give away, but I sure want my kids to care about their community, both locally and internationally.

Lemonaid standSo, several years ago, I along with several friends started a group named Blooming Kids for Kindness. While we encourage the entire family to participate and don’t underestimate the value of that, it’s clear to me that some of the greatest enjoyment with our giving comes when we volunteer with friends.

Take our latest project of Lemonade Day, for example. Imagine 14 kids, ages 4-11, sitting together with their parents for 1.5 hours brainstorming stand names, determining optimal locations, testing recipes, calculating costs, estimating sales, and choosing charities that would receive all the profits. Add to this: tie-dying shirts for a common look, squeezing 336 lemons, painting our lemonade stand, and creating flyers. It was a boat-load of work! Continue reading →

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Mar 08 2012
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Family, Next Generation, Ted Donley

Getting Involved Isn’t Easy

By Ted Donley, Donley Foundation

It took me 24 years to get involved in my family’s foundation.

Growing up, I didn’t really know what it was, nevertheless what a foundation was or what it meant. Luckily for my sisters and me, my dad and mom did instill philanthropy in us while we were young. They gave us $100 each. Sadly for us at the time, we didn’t get to keep the money. Instead, we were told to research a worthy cause in the small community of York, PA, to which we would donate it.

And you know what? In the end, giving the money away felt even better than keeping it.

In 1987, the year I was born, my grandparents started the Donley Foundation. For two decades, the board of directors included my grandparents, father, aunt, and uncle. I never understood what happened behind closed doors, other than my parents and grandparents gave money to libraries and stuff.

I also wasn’t in tune with what was going on when the third generation, my two siblings and seven cousins, reached an age to attend to the “meetings.” As a younger kid, I just remember it being an awesome time to hang out with my family from Chicago and New Hampshire.

Continue reading →

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