By: The GPA Team A client came to us recently to better understand their giving history and use it to develop a strategy for future giving. When we took a look at the data together, it told a clear story. Nearly all of their giving—thoughtful, consistent, and deeply personal—was concentrated in arts and cultural organizations. […]

By: Darcy Addison, Partner and Advisor Recently, several families and foundations have asked us to help them create a plan for “managing growth.” Meaning, as their assets double (and in some cases triple), how will their philanthropic endeavors increase as well. Growth is an exciting “problem” to have, but can also mean an identity shift […]

By: Kaky McGinness Grant, Founder and Principal “Don’t think about making women fit the world — think about making the world fit women.” – Gloria Steinem As we mark Women’s History Month this month, we find ourselves at a remarkable vantage point as many of our clients are women-led philanthropic efforts. In our work at […]

By: Darcy Addison, Partner and Advisor If you’re anything like me (and millions of fans around the globe) currently obsessed with the show “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” you’re in good company. Who doesn’t love a good love story? And who can get enough of Carolyn’s iconic 90’s style? (Having lived […]

By: Kaky McGinness Grant, Founder and Principal “In the time of change, learners inherit the earth while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped with a world that no longer exists.” – Eric Hoffer, Social Philosopher Grant Philanthropic Advisors closed its doors for two weeks over the holidays. During that time, I had the good fortune […]

By: Leslie Gross, Senior Advisor A foundation trustee called me last week, voice tight with frustration: “Our strategic plan commits us to equity. Our grantmaking advances equity. But now we’re being told to scrub ‘equity’ from everything we touch. How do we stay true to who we are?” Here’s what I told her and what […]

“Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” – Walter Gretzky (father of celebrated hockey player, Wayne Gretzky) The next chapter of family philanthropy promises to be one of both complexity and opportunity. As the field continues to evolve—driven by the growing influence of women and rising generation, serious […]

At Grant Philanthropic Advisors, we have the privilege of helping philanthropic families set up their charitable giving vehicles and define their values and mission. We also help families pass the torch of leadership from one generation to the next as it relates to family philanthropy. Often, this is from the founding generation to the next.  […]

As we’ve observed significant pullbacks in government funding from the nonprofit sector, we’re hearing comments and questions grounded in fear and also genuine curiosity.  “Whose job is it anyway to care for the most vulnerable in our country?” “Philanthropy will never be able to fill the gaps of large scale government assistance and interventions – […]

Philanthropic decision-making is more complex and critical than ever. Donors are asking deeper questions, grantees are navigating urgent challenges, and impact requires more than good intentions. It requires clarity, coordination and a strategic approach. That’s why we built Stratlas: a digital tool designed exclusively for our clients to bring structure, insight and geographic visibility to […]

I have been in the business of philanthropy for 24 years and I have never observed such seismic shifts in the sector. Some shifts we have seen coming for a long time, like the Great Wealth Transfer and passing of the baton of family leadership from Baby Boomers to Gen X and Millennials. Other shifts […]

How long should your family’s philanthropic mission and impact exist? Should you focus your giving efforts while you’re alive to maximize impact? Should your philanthropic mission extend beyond you for a set number of years to be managed by your family or close family advisors? Does your philanthropic strategy lend itself to a perpetual model? […]

“If you’ve seen one family foundation, you’ve seen one family foundation.” This maxim accurately captures the complexity and uniqueness of family philanthropy. Acknowledging this, there are common threads in the typical evolution of family foundations. Families face similar points of inflection as they gain experience in their grantmaking and their own families change shape through […]

Effective philanthropy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. For individuals and families looking to align their giving with their financial and legacy goals, collaboration among key advisors is essential. At Grant Philanthropic Advisors, we take a holistic approach, working closely with wealth advisors, tax and estate planning attorneys, and CPAs to ensure that philanthropy is integrated […]

As a philanthropist, you have the exhilarating opportunity to maximize your impact with your charitable dollars, your time and your connections. Early on in the planning phase, you may consider: Should I focus on a specific issue or a specific place to drive my philanthropic efforts? Or maybe it is a combination of the two. […]

Aristotle once said, “To give money away is an easy matter and in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how much, and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter.” This question has been posed since the dawn of time. […]

Philanthropists and their advisors often wrestle with their options for charitable giving vehicles. You’ve mostly heard of a donor advised fund (DAF) and a private foundation, which are the two most common. Families can choose alternatives in the form of LLCs or Trusts. More sophisticated philanthropists may utilize a variety of giving vehicles to accomplish […]