Forward Momentum™: Exclusive Philanthropy Issue
KEEPING TODAY'S FAMILIES INFORMED AND INSPIRED
Our goal is to keep you inspired, informed, and connected to the leading voices and current thinking in the industry.

Thoughts from Pitcairn Relationship Managers: 5 Traits for Effective Philanthropy
For many families of wealth, creating a long lasting legacy is a fundamental goal, one that reaches beyond the boundaries of family, making an impact on their communities and the world.
Our Relationship Managers, Laurie Martin, Matt McCarte and Karen Carlson, discuss the key traits that have contributed to their clients’ success.
Trends in Philanthropy & Family Engagement in a World in Crisis
In this Voices in Leadership conversation, Amy Hart Clyne engages in a conversation with Jenna Mulhall-Brereton, Chief Philanthropic Services Officer at National Philanthropic Trust (NPT). They discuss:
- What donors and organizations are doing in these defining moments of 2020
- How our investment portfolios influence our giving strategy
- How philanthropy helps engage the family across generations
Four Questions Every Philanthropist Should Ask
As a donor looking to make a difference, an essential first step is to develop a personal charitable giving strategy. Having a sense of your charitable goals will help you explore organizations that share your vision. As you determine where to give, Jenna Mulhall-Brereton at NPT recommends these four questions every philanthropist should ask:
Below is a suggested list of articles written by Pitcairn's Wealth Momentum Philanthropy partners:
- A Roadmap to Building Your Giving Strategy: This brief guide by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is designed to introduce you to the world of thoughtful, effective philanthropy. It is a roadmap for donors – individuals, couples, families, or groups. It offers an overview of issues and pertinent questions that philanthropists may want to consider as they create their own giving strategies.
- A Comparison of Philanthropic Vehicles – A Snapshot on Donor-Advised Funds, Supporting Organizations and Private Foundations: The following guide from National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) outlines the major differences between donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, and private foundations. This chart can help determine the most appropriate charitable giving vehicle.
- Empower Lifelong Serving Habits: This piece by National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) challenges donors to think about who influenced their philanthropic behaviors when looking to empower lifelong serving habits in young people. Who lit your giving back spark, what did they teach you, and how can you pass that along to the youth in your life?
- Tips for Giving in the Time of COVID: In the face of the immense challenges and hardships presented by COVID-19, how can those with private foundations and donor advised funds effectively respond? This article by Foundation Source offers tips for giving in the time of COVID-19.
We've put together a collection of children’s books on philanthropy categorized by school-age group. These are great resources providing ideas on how to make the world a better place by putting giving into action!
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Pre-K & Early Elementary | Late Elementary & Middle School |
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High School | The Whole Family |
Another great resource on the topic of giving for families is the TED Talk Philanthropy Collection. We recommend starting with this 4 minute video featuring Mark Bezos, NY volunteer firefighter and SVP, Development, Communications & Events at Robin Hood, the leading poverty-fighting charity in NYC. In this fun and inspirational piece Mark reminds us that all acts of generosity count, no matter the scale.
Lastly, we’d like to recommend a philanthropy resource with a twist. The University of Copenhagen - the leader in studying impact and sustainability across the globe - offers a free, beginner level course titled, The Sustainable Development Goals: A Global, Transdisciplinary Vision for the Future.

In this 3 week approximately 10-hour course, you will get a historical overview of how impact and sustainability has been understood, as well as a thorough introduction to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – what they are, how progress can be measured, and how the SDGs are relevant for the management of the global systems supporting humanity. The course will examine how various societal actors are responding to and implementing the SDGs.