I must confess I've derived some chuckles and a lot of incredulous head-shaking as I read news lately about the sole trustee of the New York-based Judith Rothschild Foundation who disappeared for several months and left 17 grantees without their promised grant checks, which totaled about $100,000.
You can get the details — which read almost like fiction — from articles in the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. But long story short, the foundation was created by the late Judith Rosthchild, a New York artist, to help share the story of her own work and foster new artists. She named her friend, Harvey S. Shipley Miller, as the sole trustee.
That would be mistake number one, wouldn't you agree? Aside from the ethical considerations of having a single trustee, we often talk hypothetically about what would happen if a key leader were "hit by a bus." According to Mr. Miller, who recently resurfaced, this wasn't far from the truth. He claims he was badly injured in a fall at his home months ago and has been unable to communicate all this time. If we take him at his word, then that's all the more reason to have a plan in place for communication for any grantmaking foundation, no matter what the size or scope.
Sounds like Mr. Miller would benefit from SECF's upcoming Essential Skills and Strategies for Grantmakers workshop. If he were to attend, he'd learn some of the basic ins and outs of foundation rules and regulations from seasoned veterans in the field — including key points on ethics and communications. He'd also get his hands on some valuable philanthropy resources that would definitely inform his grantmaking.
He can't attend, but you certainly can! The two-day workshop takes place in Atlanta March 3-4. Click here to learn more, view the full syllabus and register.
You can get the details — which read almost like fiction — from articles in the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. But long story short, the foundation was created by the late Judith Rosthchild, a New York artist, to help share the story of her own work and foster new artists. She named her friend, Harvey S. Shipley Miller, as the sole trustee.
That would be mistake number one, wouldn't you agree? Aside from the ethical considerations of having a single trustee, we often talk hypothetically about what would happen if a key leader were "hit by a bus." According to Mr. Miller, who recently resurfaced, this wasn't far from the truth. He claims he was badly injured in a fall at his home months ago and has been unable to communicate all this time. If we take him at his word, then that's all the more reason to have a plan in place for communication for any grantmaking foundation, no matter what the size or scope.
Sounds like Mr. Miller would benefit from SECF's upcoming Essential Skills and Strategies for Grantmakers workshop. If he were to attend, he'd learn some of the basic ins and outs of foundation rules and regulations from seasoned veterans in the field — including key points on ethics and communications. He'd also get his hands on some valuable philanthropy resources that would definitely inform his grantmaking.
He can't attend, but you certainly can! The two-day workshop takes place in Atlanta March 3-4. Click here to learn more, view the full syllabus and register.
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