For many families, giving is more than a tax-deductible act — it’s part of a family culture. Some give their time. Others their expertise. And for those with the resources, formal philanthropy becomes a way to pass down values, preserve legacy and engage successive generations in purposeful service.
But engaging the next generation in meaningful ways requires more than good intentions. It takes effort, flexibility and a willingness to share power.
At the National Center for Family Philanthropy, or NCFP, we’ve spent years working with families to explore how best to prepare rising generations for leadership. As we’ve learned, the most successful efforts aren’t always formal or expensive. But they are intentional.
Giving a voice — and a vote
According to NCFP’s “Trends 2025” study, 86 percent of family foundations say they’re encouraging next-gen involvement. But only 26 percent identify it as one of their board’s top priorities. The interest is there, but execution often falls short.
Some foundations, like the Gibney, Laird Norton and Tracy family foundations, have created formal programs to engage younger members through grantmaking. The Gibney Family Foundation’s next-gen group meets with grantees over video calls. At the Laird Norton Family Foundation, teens age 14 to 20 participate in the “Sapling Fund,” selecting issue areas — sometimes outside the foundation’s primary focus — and connecting with grantees via Zoom. For these families, virtual tools have become a bridge across geography and generations.
Grantmaking isn’t just an education tool — it’s a way to build autonomy. Young participants learn consensus-building, leadership and how to grapple with impact and trade-offs. “Grants are what excite our next generation,” says The Gibney Family Foundation CEO Tracy Wasden.
In-person, on purpose
Still, nothing replaces the power of gathering in person. Whether it’s cousin camp, a service day across five cities, or a family retreat in the Ozarks, these moments cultivate connection and community. They also expose young people to the foundation’s work in real time — through site visits, service projects and shared experiences.
Despite a decline in site visits across the sector, families who want their next generation to care deeply about philanthropy often find that direct engagement with grantees is what makes the mission real.
Flexibility and power sharing
Young adults don’t always have the time or desire to jump into governance roles right away. Recognizing this, families like those at the Laird Norton and Tracy family foundations have created on- and off-ramps, allowing participation to ebb and flow with life stages.
They’ve also recognized the need to genuinely share decision-making. The Gibney Family Foundation even restructured its board to make space for new voices. Wasden wants the next-gen cohort to know, “You are capable. We need you. We’d love to have you.”
This openness includes accepting that new generations may bring different ideas. And that’s the point. As Cadence Miller, a program officer at the Laird Norton Family Foundation, put it, “If you want to have a perpetual foundation, you have to give the next generation some ownership.”
In other words: Legacy isn’t what you leave behind. It’s what you invite others to carry forward.
Nicholas Tedesco is the president and chief executive officer and Maggie McGoldrick is the senior manager of marketing and communications at the National Center for Family Philanthropy.
This story appears in the October 2025 issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe.