“How do we do this? That is often a question Sharilyn hears from families who are interested in giving together. It is also the question which spurred her doctoral research on governance and multi-generational family philanthropy in Canada. Her work with family clients is informed greatly by this experience and knowledge.
Through her exploration, she created the Family Philanthropy Governance Model ©, which provides a roadmap that helps families get organized to give in a way that works, regardless of the giving structure (or structures) a family chooses to give through.
Dr. Hale’s work is the only research of its kind globally and was recognized with the Outstanding Dissertation Award from Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota.
A two-page executive summary of her study is available for download here.
Her full dissertation paper is available upon request.
Family Philanthropy Governance Model©
- Envision a purpose for giving that benefits the community and the family
- Ensure right-sized management and resources to support giving
- Frame approach for giving and engagement with recipients
- Harness social capital to communicate and make decisions among family members, community partners and advisors
- Clarify leadership, roles and expectations of participating family members, and grow wisdom through learning
- Ensure family participation is voluntary
- Engage with trust
- Prioritize dialogue
- Seek consensus
- Commit to accountability to self, family and community
- Initiating and sustaining leadership
- Awareness of family history, culture, identity and shared values
- External expertise and education to address gaps or advance knowledge
- Informed community partners to provide insight into community needs, and the impact of charitable giving
families’ choices
- Identified goals and objectives for giving
- Family complexity, diversity and size
- Life stages and generational levels of family members
- Giving structure, vehicles and scale of giving