Effective family philanthropy makes a collective commitment to meaningful societal change. It holds itself accountable to impact as defined by community, and to the proven practices that support it. It is adaptive, evolving with the family and the community or ecosystem within which it operates. It shares or cedes power with different family members and generations, as well as staff, communities, and grantees.

This new publication honors the innovative leadership of CMF members, and the many unique ways philanthropy peers are working together and with their communities to make Michigan a place where all can thrive.

This document is a reference tool for considering which philanthropic giving structure is most appropriate to the unique situation and priorities of these individuals and families.

This webinar highlights challenges that foundation boards and executives are facing and discusses the board development levers that are most related to stronger board and foundation performance.

Our 2025 survey of hundreds of family philanthropies across the country affirms that over the past 10 years donors have made positive, if incremental, progress toward effective practice. However, change has been too slow and too superficial to yield the lasting transformation we seek.

This is a report on who family-owned foundations lose their way.

This report shows that our nation now faces five “new realities” that are redefining who we are, where and with whom we live, and how we provide for our own welfare, as well as that of our families and communities. 

The article covers how the family foundation worked with its board to not only evaluate their foundation's tradition in grantmaking but also discover new ways of working, with a keen focus on remaining responsive in their pursuit of equity.