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Family foundations

Bespoke philanthropy advice for family foundations

A family foundation may reach a point where its approach to philanthropic giving needs a fresh look. Perhaps a new generation is becoming involved, you’re reviewing your strategy or the way things have worked in the past no longer feels right.

I help families, trustees and staff work through these moments together, so they can agree on a clear direction and feel ready to put it into practice.

Start a conversation

Make confident decisions at a time of change

You may be planning for succession, wondering how to involve family members more meaningfully or asking whether your grant-making reflects what matters most to the foundation now.

Sometimes there is a particular task to tackle. Sometimes people have different views about the future, or know that things aren’t working as well as they could, but haven’t yet had the space to talk it through.

You don’t need to have the answer or a fully defined brief before we talk.

What can we work on together?

Depending on what your foundation needs, I can help with:

a strategic review and a plan for what comes next
succession or involving the next generation
discussions between family members, trustees and staff
a review of grant-making priorities, programmes or funding relationships
facilitated workshops and away days, supported by preparation and follow-up

I can also provide an independent sounding board as you put decisions into practice. We’ll agree the scope of the work around what your foundation needs.

“Thank you for guiding us in such a bespoke way. The mark of an excellent consultant is to take the theory and their experience and apply it to the client’s very specific circumstances and make them understand how they can get to where they need to be. In my experience, very few manage the bespoke. You have done it masterfully.”

Laura Serratrice, The James Tudor Foundation

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What will it be like to work together?

I begin by listening to the people involved and understanding the decisions in front of you. Where it would help, I can bring in information and perspectives from the wider charity and grant-making landscape.

Then I design and facilitate a process that fits your foundation. That might mean individual conversations before bringing people together, time to explore unfamiliar ideas, and a measured approach to decisions that cannot be rushed.

My role is to help you move from discussion to a clear, practical way forward: one that people understand, have helped shape and can commit to.

Meet Emma

Let’s talk about what comes next

Whether you have a specific project in mind or are still working out what needs attention, a free, confidential 30-minute consultation is a good place to begin.

Get in touch