Challenges and strategies for family foundations with geographically dispersed board members

Abstract

Based on interviews with leaders of 10 family foundations, the authors investigate the impact of geographic dispersion on governance, administration, decision making, and grantmaking activities. The greatest challenges for family foundations with dispersed boards involve assembling an appropriate staff, ensuring strong communication between staff and board members, and focusing the organization's mission. Common strategies for keeping board members involved include providing flexible but clear direction to nonfamily staff, developing steppingstone board positions for successive generations, and balancing the mission with the desire to build family ties.