Philanthropy411, is currently covering the Council on Foundations conference with the help of a blog team. This is a guest post by Richard Woo, CEO of The Russell Family Foundation
by Richard Woo
Here’s a quick poll for anyone at the conference who has ever given philanthropically or been born into a family–that is, all of us.
Zac Russell, is a 23 year old third generation family member of the Foundation at which I serve. At last month’s meeting of the Foundation’s annual retreat, Zac asked the board of family and outside directors: “Are we a foundation that is family-centered or family-inspired?”
In Zac’s view, a family-centered model infers that the work of a foundation revolves around and through the founding family in service to the community.
In a family-inspired framework, Zac believes a foundation’s efforts spring from a family’s founding values and vision, while engaging the community in service to the common good.
What are your thoughts?
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Posted by Kris Putnam-Walkerly © Kris Putnam-Walkerly and Philanthropy411, 2010.
