Libra Foundation’s Post

Giving til the safe is emptied… McKenzie Scott has guidance not only for billionaires who want to follow her example and ramp up their giving, but also for everyday donors – and investors — who may be contemplating year-end decisions. Here are five relevant lessons from Scott’s approach: Think Broadly About Ways To Make Change https://lnkd.in/e3c3Vehs

✨ COUNTDOWN: TOP TEN BLOGS OF 2024 ✨ #2: The second most popular blog post of the year comes from Jeff Williams and Alexandra Akaakar, M.Sc and explores the fiscal sponsorship model. Launching a new nonprofit is complex work, requiring founders to be expert generalists who can set up back-office operations, navigate legal certifications, and establish donor cultivation protocols all at once. In response to these challenges, fiscal sponsorship is gaining ground as an increasingly popular alternative model, one that can lift a mission’s administrative burdens and accelerate the work. However, there are caveats and key questions that all partners should consider before stepping into a fiscal sponsorship arrangement. Read more → https://lnkd.in/gR4uPJtZ

"Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact" Not all who support community projects are wealthy. Many are ordinary individuals with extraordinary hearts, driven by the desire to make a difference. They give not because they have more than enough but because they care deeply about the cause and the lives it touches. As recipients of this generosity, we have a profound responsibility to honor their sacrifices. Stewardship is about more than managing resources—it’s about ensuring every contribution creates meaningful, lasting impact. Mismanagement of funds not only disrupts plans but also erodes the foundation of trust and diminishes future opportunities to bring change. Transparency, accountability, and integrity must guide every action we take. When we operate with these values, we build trust, foster collaboration, and inspire continued support from those who believe in our mission. Together, we can create thriving, sustainable communities that reflect the hope and dedication of our funding partners. Let’s recognize the incredible impact of these ordinary people and commit to making every effort count. #OrdinaryPeopleExtraordinaryImpact #Stewardship #Transparency #Accountability #Sustainability #Communityprojects #IndigenousProjects #ProjectManagement #FaithBasedOrganizations #FundingPartners #Donors

Finding myself holding the wisdom of this great opinion piece, alongside two reports released over the last week: National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) Trends 2025 survey of family philanthropy & Technology Association of Grantmakers 2024 State of Philanthropy Tech. See both here and the article shared below: 🔵 NCFP Trends 2025 Report: https://lnkd.in/gEhgD8YP 🔵 Technology Association of Grantmakers 2024 State of Philanthropy Tech Survey Report: https://lnkd.in/g8tJ4Ucx While both of the above are essential reads to understand trends and practices in family philanthropy and the evolving role of technology in grantmaking, data gathering, and grantee performance, I continue to hold the wisdom of (more institutional) funders' exploration and implementation of trust based philanthropy. 📢 Spoiler: these reports DON'T all say the same things! Feel like it's impossible to keep up with? 🤷♀️ It's because it is. And we all speak different languages. Institutional funders. Hospital conversion foundations. Staff-led family foundations. Family-led private foundations. DAF holders. Wealth advisors. Nonprofits. Pass through funders. Individual donors. Development professionals. Family office staff. Philanthropic consultants. While I feel grateful to have straddled these roles -- never perfectly, I might add -- it has also left me feeling a weight of misalignment. Our sources are different. Our languages are different. Our frameworks are different. Our credentialing is different. Our motivations are different. The books we read are different. We have created these differences and we have to cut through the noise to bring about something I hope we agree on: a better tomorrow. #philanthropy #daf #development #philanthropy #foundations #trends #tbp #trustbasedphilanthropy

I love this article. It is such a thoughtful perspective that gets at the heart of what #trustbasedphilanthropy is all about: 🔄 Trust goes both ways (it's not just about funders trusting grantees) ✊🏾 It's about much more than flexible funding - it's about investing in organizations' long-term success 💡 Nonprofits need runway to plan ahead for abrupt shifts that will affect their funding - please don't pull the rug out from under them! ✨ Collaboration is key. "Social change happens when nonprofits, funders, community-based groups, and other stakeholders work together to address challenges." Read the full article by Marianne M. and Clare Gibson Nangle below ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gQtFZHtY

The latest data shows both contributions to and distributions from donor-advised funds (DAFs) declined in 2023, with contributions down by 21.7% and distributions by 1.4%. However, total DAF assets grew due to market gains, and payout rates remained strong at 23.9%. For nonprofit leaders, this highlights the importance of financial resilience strategies and diversifying revenue streams as economic trends impact giving. https://lnkd.in/eXXSt59k

To be effective, NCFP believes funders must employ four principles: accountability, equity, relationships, and reflection and learning. We talked to four NCFP members about how each principle is being practiced by family philanthropies and why these principles matter. Read the conversations below: 🔷 Ashley Blanchard and Miki Akimoto on how the Hill-Snowdon Foundation has evolved its practices to prioritize accountability. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/e2tXBhjv 🔷 Diana Heath and June Wilson on the benefits—and challenges—of incorporating an equity lens across all funding practices and approaches. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/ea6Eh9be 🔷 Emerald Adeyemi, CFRE and Don Chen on the importance of reflection and learning in in an effort to have an even greater impact. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eEpb33Sk 🔷 Sokol Shtylla and Erin Borla explore how the Roundhouse Foundation centers relationships in the pursuit of more effective and transformative family philanthropy. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/enJN8PMy

A few weeks ago, I shared the importance of investing in equitable nonprofits and small businesses. So what can you do now? There’s often an imbalance in how we view power between nonprofits, businesses, and governments. Nonprofits are seen as needing to hustle for every dollar, but in reality, they play a vital role alongside these larger entities and we can challenge that together. These organizations are filling critical gaps that government and businesses sometimes can’t fully address. True progress comes when we recognize the value each sector brings. Government policies, business innovation, and nonprofit expertise all work together to create meaningful change. We’re all in this together. By collaborating with nonprofits, we can improve our work together: Invest with intention: When we provide financial support, we level the playing field, giving nonprofits the resources to continue addressing the needs that aren’t being met by traditional institutions. This complements the work being done by governments and businesses. Tell Their Story: Talking about their work brings attention to the causes they champion and the real-world problems they’re solving. Your platform can help them reach new audiences who care about making a difference. Offering your resources—whether time, expertise, or connections—can help these organizations take their work to the next level. This is our chance to build stronger partnerships, more cohesive solutions and stronger communities. #PartnerForChange #EquityInAction #SupportNonprofits #CollectiveImpact #InvestInProgress

This is a great article if you want to understand recent thinking around Donor Advised Funds better know as DAFs.