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Just as government and businesses require sound governance to do their work well, so too do families—and their philanthropy. The Family Governance Pyramid provides a model and framework for philanthropic families that is even more relevant and necessary today than when it was first introduced nearly two decades ago. This article by the National Center for Family Philanthropy provides some perspective on why, and how, families can apply this model to their family and philanthropy, for the good of all.

This issue brief examines the kinds of decisions that family foundations often face and sets out practical, easy-to-apply guidelines for ensuring that the foundation’s decision-making methods vary appropriately, as conditions and circumstances change.

Finding a way to facilitate trust, communication, and proper preparation and development of the necessary skill sets of the next generation can be difficult and will vary from family to family. Today, many families are finding answers to these questions through a private family foundation. If you’re thinking about staring a family foundation, here are considerations to help guide the setup, as well as potential benefits for your family and the long-term preservation of your family’s wealth.

Managing family wealth over the long-term requires careful thought and a well-structured estate plan. Before making specific decisions about what’s best for your wealth, it’s wise to spend time considering what it is you really want to see happen with it. There are steps you can take—including considering trust options—to help create a legacy plan that both reflects your values and incorporates tax-efficient ways to transfer your assets.

Making the shift from a “checkbook” donor to a philanthropist can be one of the most rewarding privileges of wealth. And while discussions about philanthropy often begin in the context of tax or estate planning, start with exploring what you want your wealth to accomplish and why you want to give. It’s also important to measure your philanthropic impact, including investment performance that typically plays a key role in philanthropy.

The process of finding a charity and donating money seems simple. However, just like portfolio asset allocation, slightly different approaches can yield dramatically different results in your wealth management strategy. See how they change when looking at comparable after-tax benefits of three basic methods of charitable giving.

In a season of change and unprecedented challenges—from the unexpected presence of a devastating pandemic, growing awareness of longstanding racism and pervasive systemic inequality, and a movement to restore democracy—no one is exempt. In the wake of those challenges, the philanthropy sector has evolved and continues to learn.