Complete the survey by February 29.

For the most recent data on small foundation salaries, please see ASF’s 2012 Foundation Operations and Management Report.

Questions about ASF surveys? Contact Kathryn Petrillo-Smith, .

Read more about ASF Data and Research

The report’s summary states: “What we found was not completely surprising:  a small but important subset of grantmakers – those who work on issues ranging from human rights to environmental justice – has been disproportionately impacted by the global financial crisis and their recovery remains in jeopardy.”

Diminishing Dollars: The Impact of the 2008 Financial Crisis on the Field of Social Justice Philanthropy reveals some key findings:

• Unless the field sees five years of above average investment returns, social justice grantmaking in 2015 will remain below 2008 levels.
• Small foundations (less than $50 million in assets) will struggle the most to recover from the economic downturn.
• Nonprofit organizations seeking new funders will have a difficult time.
• Some foundations are unintentionally depleting their endowments at a very slow rate.

For starters, we’re energized by our current strategic planning process. Formally launched in October, we’ve already been engaging members, sponsors, board members, staff, and others in the philanthropic sector. The process, which we expect to complete by late spring 2012, will help focus our efforts to strengthen ASF, ultimately for your benefit.

We’ve already uncovered questions to explore, including:

• Does something unite members in addition to size?
• Is small the right word?
• Does ASF offer as much for veterans as newcomers?
• How might ASF reach members’ backyards?

Your thoughts are important, and I encourage your input. As a membership organization, it is critical that your voice is heard. Here on our website, you’ll find a page dedicated to the strategic plan, including a description of the process and a survey. I hope you’ll visit, stay informed, and offer your views. We’ll also reach out to you in other ways as the process unfolds.

In addition to the strategic plan, we’ll continue to integrate technology into our programs and services in 2012. Thanks to generous support from one of your fellow members, we’ll soon introduce an ASF blog. It will provide a forum for sharing ideas about foundations and our role in the community of givers. We’re also exploring ways to help you better understand how grantees use technology so you will be prepared to make thoughtful funding decisions.

We also recently expanded the Legislative Update page of our website to keep you informed about policy discussions that impact the philanthropic community. I invite you to participate in our monthly Legislative Update conference calls, during which we talk about developments in Congress and, when appropriate, state-level legislation.

We are also in high gear planning for the 2012 National Conference, October 7–9 in San Francisco. We recently issued a “Call for Ideas” to members and colleagues in the sector, and I look forward to seeing them come to life.

On a personal note, I’ve enjoyed meeting many of you as I travel around the country. It has been a pleasure to learn about the tremendous work you do. I also want to thank so many of you for your additional support beyond dues. Your generosity helps keep ASF vibrant.

Finally, on behalf of the staff and board, I wish you a new year filled with thoughtful grants, intentional impact, and success in all your endeavors.

All the best,

Henry Berman

“Meaningful decisions are never easy, and neither is meaningful giving,” says Berman. “It requires not just an understanding of the issues, but also of the consequences of our actions. As with our families and careers, philanthropy often involves tough choices and difficult conversations. Let’s apply the same care and diligence to our giving as we do in the rest of our lives.”

Additional insights are offered by Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Impact 2012: What the experts say about making a difference in the new year

Read the article

The Next Generation Retreat will come to the ASF 2012 National Conference.

3 Actions Inspired by the Next Generation Retreat

“I have been inspired to effect change in our Next Generation and empower a successful and knowledgeable Junior Foundation.”
- Kristen Sheridan Purnell Young, WHH Foundation, age 26

“I plan to go back to my board and present on the retreat and become more active in our succession plan. I’m hoping to step up to different roles.” - Katie Marcus Reker, Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation, age 16

“I plan on attending more meetings and site visits as well as do my own research. I plan on being more involved and making time for the foundation.” - Derek Rutkowski, Gustafson Family Foundation

More Next Gen Resources

Sign up for the quarterly Next Gen News.

Get discounted access to the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s resources with the ASF-NCFP Affiliate Program.

Browse the ASF Family Philanthropy section.

All ASF members (primary contacts) receive one complimentary hard copy of the report..

ASF members

• Download the report for free
• Order additional hard copies for $25 each
• Download an order form
• Call us at (888) 212-9922

Non-members

• Order the report for $95 each
• Download an order form
• Call us at (888) 212-9922

Webinar

Take a close look at the new survey data during our webinar on Thusday, November 17. Register

Snapshots From the Report

• 36% of foundations surveyed said they provide compensation for routine board service and committee service. Family foundations are less likely to compensative for routine board service than independent foundations.


• Lack of asset growth or income was identified as the single most important issue facing foundations, with board/generational succession and need for greater focus/impact in grantmaking tying for second.


• The average investment return for calendar year 2010 was 11.2%.


• For each $1 in grants, foundations typically spend $0.13 in charitable operating costs.


• The two most common types of grant support are for specific programs and general operating support. 73% of foundations give specific program support, 71% provide general operating support.

Special thanks to Bernstein Global Wealth Management, our sponsor for the investment chapter of the 2011 Foundation Operations and Management Report.

This signature report contains more than 50 pages of easy-to-read data and commentary on small foundation administration, boards, grantmaking, and investments, as reported by more than 750 ASF members.

Take a close look at the survey data during our webinar on Thursday, November 17. There is no charge to ASF members.

ASF members
Download the report

Primary contacts will be mailed one hard copy around Thankgiving and anyone may purchase additional print copies at that time.

Non-members
This report download is an exclusive member benefit. Join today, or you may purchase print copies when they become available around Thanksgiving.

Snapshots From the Report

• 36% of foundations surveyed said they provide compensation for routine board service and committee service. Family foundations are less likely to compensative for routine board service than independent foundations.


• Lack of asset growth or income was identified as the single most important issue facing foundations, with board/generational succession and need for greater focus/impact in grantmaking tying for second.


• The average investment return for calendar year 2010 was 11.2%.


• For each $1 in grants, foundations typically spend $0.13 in charitable operating costs.


• The two most common types of grant support are for specific programs and general operating support. 73% of foundations give specific program support, 71% provide general operating support.

Special thanks to Bernstein Global Wealth Management, our sponsor for the investment chapter of the report and the webinar on Thursday, November 17.

ASF has done amazing things in a short time. But how many of you might have some ideas if I asked you, “What is one thing ASF could create or improve upon in the next year that could help you be more successful in your work?”

As an organization we’re ready to figure out how to do even more, which is why I’m especially excited about the strategic planning initiative that is officially getting underway at this meeting. The project is an opportunity for us – and by us, I mean all of us – to explore questions and issues such as:

• What is our value to members now and how can we improve?
• What kinds of (if any) new members should we be looking for?
• Where do we want to be in five years?
• How do we want to be experienced by members, the philanthropic sector, the press, the government and the public in general?

One person referred to the project as a way to re-magnetize our compass. By assuring our compass is calibrated, we will head down the path knowing we’re on the right trail. Sometimes a change of even just a couple of degrees of direction can make a huge difference over time. And so the time to confirm where are today, and determine just where we want to go and how, is now.

Under the guidance of a planning committee composed of members, and with significant opportunities for participation from all of you, we’ll follow this strategic planning process map.

But it’s not just a process on a piece of paper. We’ll all be wrestling with some interesting and, likely, difficult questions. Is there something that holds ASF together besides staff size? Should donors be part of our membership? Is there as much at ASF for veterans as for newcomers? Is “small” the right word for us? What kind of leader in the field do we want ASF to be?

We don’t know all the answers yet. In fact, we probably don’t know all the questions, but one thing I promise you about this entire initiative: You will have lots of opportunities to participate, and I’m sincerely asking that you do participate.

Come to me or any of our staff or board members at meetings, or , or by phone, and tell us your thoughts on this question:

What is one thing ASF could create or improve in the next year or two that could help you be successful in your work?

Our eyes and ears are wide open.

NCG: Tell us a little bit about how and why ASF began offering this seminar.

ASF: ASF started the Trustee Leadership Seminar in 2001 with a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation. At the time, there wasn’t much programming for foundations with few or no staff. Participating in the seminar was both a way to learn the basics from experts and peers as well as connect with other trustees.

NCG: Who leads the seminar?

ASF: This December the seminar will be facilitated by Patricia Sinay. Patricia is from San Diego, and she has twenty years of experience working with nonprofits including serving as the associate vice president for programs at The San Diego Foundation. In addition, Rob Wexler of Adler Colvin will be on hand to teach foundation legal essentials and Steve Alper of Barclays Wealth will speak to the basic issues around investments that trustees must know.

NCG: How will the day be structured?

ASF: Like all leaders, foundation trustees need specific tools in their toolbox to be effective. So we’ve organized the day around technical and group tools. The technical tool modules are the legal and investments basics of governing a foundation. The group tool modules address governance issues, such as setting direction, operating effectively as a board, and planning for future leadership. We’ll also have an exercise on common sticking points for boards. And finally, we’ll look beyond running the foundation and toward leading the foundation.

NCG: Why should a trustee attend? Why should foundation staff encourage their trustee(s) to attend?

ASF: Typically, trustees who begin board service have varying levels of knowledge on governing a foundation. This seminar offers a one-stop-shop, so to speak, to get up to speed on what they need to know as a trustee. Every participant receives a copy of ASF’s signature publication The Trustee Handbook, which reinforces the seminar and serves as an invaluable resource for further questions.

NCG: What kind of feedback, from trustees who’ve attended this seminar, have you heard? How did what they learn at the seminar impact their work as trustees?

ASF: As with all programs, everyone gets something different from a daylong seminar. Some folks come away appreciating the technical tools most – both legal and investments. For others, the group tools modules makes them think more about their board policies and ones that need to be either written or revised. And, of course, networking with small-staffed foundation colleagues is always mentioned as a benefit of participating. A few years ago, someone wrote on the evaluation form that it was “great the whole board heard the same thing.” Sometimes an entire board attends in order to get everyone on the same governing page.

NCG: Is there still space in the workshop? How do I sign up?

ASF: Yes! There is still space available. Register here. If folks have questions, they can call our office toll free at (888) 212-9922. Thanks, and we hope to see you there.