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Sample Expenditure Report
Sample Document
This customizable sample report allows you to track expenditures by grantees.
The Effects of Family Culture on Family Foundations
Fundamentals
Most people do not think of their family as having a “culture.” For many, it's a group of familiar people doing what they always do.
Yet it is exactly this—a characteristic way of thinking, feeling, judging, and acting—that defines a culture. Both in direct and subtle ways, children are molded by…
Sample Docket Write-up of Program Goals and Strategies
Sample Document
This sample docket write-up allows you to customize your program goal and strategies.
A Colleague's Perspective on Trustee Orientation
External Resource
By Anne H. Morgan
Becoming a trustee of a family foundation can be a complex, confusing, and confounding experience. Suddenly you are thrust into a room full of persons whom you thought you knew, but now they are all in different roles. Your favorite aunt, who has always seemed so demure and self…
A Colleague's Perspective on Mission and Vision Statements
Fundamentals
This perspective offered by William Graustein of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund in 2013 provides useful context on creating your own foundation's mission and vision statements.
When you get down to it, the reason a charitable foundation exists is to change the world or, at least…
A Colleague's Perspective on Generational Succession
Fundamentals
In 2013, Merede Graham of the Namaste Foundation offered her perspective about how generational succession shaped her family foundation.
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My parents started our family foundation with the intent of providing their children with opportunities to build confidence and skills to serve us…
Closing Documents Checklist
Sample Document
As you prepare to close out grants, this customizable checklist can help ensure that you've received the appropriate documents from grantees.
Sample Grant Closing Letter
Sample Document
You can send this customizable sample closing letter to grantees upon the conclusion of their grant.
Sample Grant Close-Out Form
Sample Document
This sample grant close-out form can help you wrap up outstanding grants.
Charity Really Does Begin at Home: Nurturing Family Values
Fundamentals
Family celebrations and holidays are prime opportunities to create philanthropic traditions (and develop philanthropic values). To honor a child’s birthday you might plant a tree. For Mother’s Day, help your children do a good deed for someone else’s mother whose children can’t be with her. Family…
Sample Board Membership Two-Tiered Procedure
Sample Document
For incorporating the next generation onto family foundation boards.
Board Member Orientation Materials
Sample Document
This resource outlines the onboarding process for a new board member.
Is Perpetuity Too Long? Family Foundations Can Increase Impact With Sunset Dates
External Resource
From the Family Foundation Advisor, this article reviews the sunset-vs.-perpetuity issue and considers the potential benefits of a sunset date, with the special considerations of small family foundations in mind.
Providing Relief in Times of Disaster - Gifts from a Public Charity
Legal Compliance Guidance
Grants to Public Charities from a Public Charity
Unless from a donor-advised fund, disaster relief grants to domestic section 501(c) (3) public charities do not present special issues.
Grants from a Donor Advised Fund
Disaster relief aid can be provided through a donor advised fund…
Providing Relief in Times of Disaster - Matching Gifts
Legal Compliance Guidance
Public foundations, community foundations and corporate giving programs may establish a matching gifts program that will match disaster relief gifts made by employees or other donors living in the U.S. or anywhere in the world, provided the grantees are public charities based in the U.S., and gifts…
Providing Relief in Times of Disaster - Direct Corporate Giving
Legal Compliance Guidance
Grants to Public Charities from a Corporate Giving Program
Businesses can make disaster relief grants directly from the corporation, or from its corporate giving program, to any section 501(c)(3)public charity. An added plus is that such gifts are eligible as charitable deductions for the…
About Council Resources
As a benefit of membership, the Council on Foundations attorneys and legal staff provide information and education to Council members regarding a variety of topics related to foundation operations and legal compliance. All information on this website, and all publications, articles, e-mail correspondence and telephone consultations provided by Council attorneys and legal staff are intended for informational purposes only and not as part of an attorney-client relationship. Council attorneys are not licensed in every state and cannot provide legal representation.
The information is not a substitute for expert legal, tax or other professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances, and may not be relied upon for the purposes of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. Council members may e-mail legal@cof.org with inquiries and for more information.
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