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Strong governance is more than regulatory compliance. In this recorded webinar, Foundation Source’s National Philanthropy Executive Gillian Howell and Vice President of Philanthropic Advisory Services Miki Akimoto break down the people, policies and practices that keep private foundations running effectively through growth, transition and change, covering the three core fiduciary duties, how to avoid self-dealing, the written policies every foundation should have, and best practices for board composition and next-gen engagement.

People, Policies & Practice: Governance Guardrails for Private Foundations – Key Takeaways

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Good governance, as our philanthropic experts put it, is "there for you in those moments where you need to make changes or start something new." These key takeaways cover critical policies every foundation needs, guidance on board recruitment and succession, and how consistent governance protects the foundation over time.

People, Policies & Practice: Governance Guardrails for Private Foundations – Q&A

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The audience had plenty of questions, and Gillian and Miki had plenty of answers. Topics include compensation when only one family board member wants to be paid, whether a current grantee belongs on the board, and how often governance procedures should be reviewed.

ABOUT FOUNDATION SOURCE

Foundation Source is the leading provider of philanthropic software and services. A pioneer in philanthropic technology, Foundation Source is the partner of choice for integrated, enterprise-grade solutions spanning private foundations, donor-advised funds and planned giving programs. Its flexible suite of tools and resources include end-to-end administrative support for the most popular charitable vehicles, specialized compliance, tax, development and consulting capabilities, and deep domain expertise to help maximize impact, mitigate risk, and improve efficiency for all parts of the philanthropic ecosystem. Foundation Source works with donors, nonprofits, wealth advisors and financial institutions to launch, enhance or augment charitable initiatives with turnkey, white-label and outsourced offerings that meet a wide range of philanthropic objectives quickly, professionally, and compliantly.

As of December 31, 2025, Foundation Source supports more than 5,600 private foundations, 20,000 DAF accounts, and 1,700 nonprofits, administers more than $55 billion in charitable assets and facilitate more than 190,000 grants and planned gifts representing more than $4 billion in charitable aid annually.

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