Author: whatifconcepts

Empowering those that inspire so they can excel at the work that matters.

Family Foundations

Family foundations are an unique and organic enterprises.  They come in all shapes and sizes.  I have spoken to family foundation directors who share that the grants are awarded based on the board’s assessment of a proposal’s fit with the mission.  I have seen other foundations that agree on the total sum to be distributed and then allow each family member to direct an equal share towards their favorite causes.  Some foundations come very close to the self-dealing threshold where a member of the foundation’s board benefits from a grant by receiving tangible value in recognition of a grant.

Family foundation’s at there best are a shared experience center on achieving a philanthropic intent.  The purpose of the foundation unites the family and the outside directors.

Whatever model you are seeking funding from it is essential to understand the foundation’s (and sometimes family’s) level of functionality.  Grantees need to peek behind the curtain to see if the wizard is real or imagined.  Be willing to ask questions.  Search for information on Guidestar, the Foundation Center, or the Council on Foundations.  Ask past grant recipients about their experience.  Communicate directly with a family member or staff member.  Talk to your local community foundation or nonprofit center to get guidance.  Engage in a dialogue, be informed, and connect.  No two family foundations are the same so enjoy the exploration.

Your Volunteers

The IRS values volunteers time at $20.85 per hour.  You can do the math for your most loyal and active volunteers but I bet the value of the time they contribute might exceed their financial donation.  If we looked at the budget impact of volunteers time by recognizing the expense of hiring a staff position and then adjusted the revenue to recognize the volunteer contribution I believe the total would overshadow many other programs.  Just for demonstration purposes, do the following quick calculations:

Number of board member  x  number board meetings x  average duration of meetings in hours  x  $20.85= IRS valuation of volunteer time

This equation does not take into account the committee meetings, fundraising events, task forces, and all the other volunteer responsibilities that your board members assume.  This is just one segment of the volunteer impact on the organization that is easy to quantify. 

A trend in annual reports is to list volunteers as prominently and appreciatively as the contributors.  Other initiatives include creating online forums where volunteers can connect with one another, sending special volunteer newsletters, holding meaningful recognition events hosted by donors and staff, seating volunteers at fundraising galas as invited guests.  Most importantly, the best volunteer programs ask each individual what talent they are most excited to contribute before providing them with a portfolio of opportunities.

Ripping up the Syllabus
The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size.
– Oliver Wendell Homes

How does your enterprise penetrate the bubble of fans that surrounds your cause?  Do you ever seek outsiders who have a fresh perspective?  Does your organization have enough tolerance to hear revolutionary ideas?

I had a professor in college who started his course on the American Revolution by passing out the syllabus.  He then asked us to rip them up.  He had been on sabbatical doing research for a new book and it had fundamentally altered the way he was going to teach the course.  His method for the coming semester was to make-it-up and borrow from existing ideas as we went along.  It was also his thesis for his book on the framing of the constitution.  The semester was memorable because we were adventuring into new territory as a group, not simply on a guided tour.

Search for New Members

Looking for new board members or volunteers or even staff?  Perhaps you can consider using a model frequently employed by Realtors.  Often heard is the refrain, ‘we need new members for the board.’  It is equivalent of stating that you are looking for a house in Nashville, TN.  Where to start?  I would be asking some leading questions before I started giving recommendations.

If you can provide some detail to your search.  Perhaps I am looking for three bedrooms, two bath, near a park and easy to get to the airport.  I now have details to work with and my map gets more specific.



When you put out a call for new members or volunteers, try to paint a picture and see if your results are more successful.  Are you looking for a representative of Generation X, who is female, has social media skills, and experience with finance and small business?  I might know that person by name.  Without directions I might just nominate my best friend who is very much like me and brings an existing perspective and skill set to the organization.  It is the same as telling your friends only about the homes for sale in you neighborhood.


Waiting for a Matched Set

The lost sock sitting on top of the dyer waits patiently for its mate.  Cycles of laundry are completed and yet the matching sock still does not appear. 

The sock appears to be of no use.  Left to its own it is unattended and irrelevant.

How many great ideas sit on your organization’s dryer waiting for the right match?  I frequently see social sector enterprises put some of their best ideas aside like a unmatched sock.  They are waiting for the perfect donor, moment, or partner to appear and give their abandoned project life.  I am certain that if I go search in the sock drawer I have a high probability of finding the missing sock or I have a better chance of finding the mate clinging to a piece of clothing that the odds of it appearing magically from the dyer.

If there is power in the idea or project then perhaps it is well worth the energy to seek out a partner and start searching.  Another organization will gladly take the sock and turn it into their showcase project if you take no action.