Diverse and Dispersed:

Managing a Far-Flung Family

Berit Ashla, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Kelly Nowlin, Chair, Andrus Family Program, Surdna Foundation

Lisa Parker, President, Lawrence Welk Family FoundationSharmila Rao Thakkar, Executive Director, Siragusa Foundation

Today’s GoalsTools, Stories, Actionable Ideas

Growing Pains…

• Age span

• Geographic dispersion

• Less connection to founder’s place of origin

• Multiple generations

• Disparate interests

• Communication differences and preferences

• Priorities

• Motivation

Bridging, Connecting, Sharing

Acknowledging Differences, Finding Common Ground

Best Practices Balance in-person meetings that strengthen family ties with other long-

distance involvement between meetings.

Create active roles for board members in the foundation‘s work with committees and task forces.

Put time into building trust and relationships among board members and with foundation staff.

Incorporate expert knowledge from the field whenever possible – at board meetings, on site visits, at conferences.

Establish clear geographic grantmaking rules.

Use matching grants, specific trainings, and other forms of engagement to identify and incorporate board passions.

Balance the foundation’s grantmaking mission and the desire to build family ties.

Honor different life stages; provide different pathways into the foundation work.

Siragusa Foundation

• Established in 1950 by Ross Siragusa

• Second Generation: 4 siblings (none on board)

• Third Generation: 12 cousins (5 on board)

• Fourth Generation: 7 cousins (3 on board)

• 3 non-family board members

• 40 eligible family members

The Welk Family

• Established in 1960

• Founder: Lawrence Welk

• Second Generation: 3 siblings

• Third Generation: 10 cousins

• Fourth Generation: 20 cousins

• 52 eligible family members

The Andrus Family & Surdna Foundation

• Founder: John Emory Andrus

• Established Surdna Foundation, 1917

• Six Generations, 487 extended family members

• Andrus Family Fund was launched in 2000 to engage members 25-45 years of age in public service and philanthropy

Board GovernanceWelk Family Foundation• Board - 8 members and 1 non-family member

• 3-year terms, board criteria

• Descendants and spouses board eligible

• At least 1 member from each of the 3 family branches

Siragusa Foundation• 11 Board Members - 8 family members and 3 non-family

• Renewable 3-year terms

• No spouses. Dissolved “branch” structure and amended by-laws.

Surdna Foundation, Andrus Family Fund Program• 13 Board Members

• Renewable 3-year terms (up to 4 times)

• 8 potential branches – 5 are currently on board

• Orientation process

Engaging Across Geography & Difference

• If you are a foundation focused on a founder’s place of origin and family has moved away –how do you maintain connection to that region?

• What do you do at board meetings to encourage connection and collaboration?

• How are you engaging family members between board meetings?

• Do you have a range of ideologies on your board that you need to navigate? How are you doing it?

Resources and Contact Information

• National Center for Family Philanthropy PublicationPurchase at www.ndfp.org Grantmaking With a Compass: The Challenges of Geography

• Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Guides Download at http://roadmap.rockpa.org/guides/ guides that cover topics leading to more effective and rewarding family philanthropy.

• The Center for Philanthropy at Indiana University StudyDownload at https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/files/research/2011familyphilanthropybeyondbordersfinal.pdfFamily Philanthropy Beyond Borders: Best Practices for Family Foundations with Geographically Dispersed Board Members

• 21/64 “Picture Your Legacy” ToolPurchase at http://2164.net/store/tool/picture-your-legacy this deck of 52 colorful image cards that guides individuals, groups, and families toward articulating a legacy.

• Book Recommendations for Navigating Differences Among TrusteesCrucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson and Joseph GrennyGetting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury

• Berit Ashla, bashla@rockpa.org Kelly Knowlin, kellyknowlin@me.com• Lisa Parker, parkerwelk@me.com Sharmila Rao Thakkar, srthakkar@siragusa.org