Great Governance for Family Philanthropy

Join us for a comprehensive 6-week program designed to enhance governance knowledge and practices among those involved directly in family philanthropy.

Great Governance for Family Philanthropy is about how to organize yourself to make decisions about giving and to demonstrate accountability to each other and to others.

Whether giving through a foundation, a donor-advised fund (DAF), or a business, this program is tailored for generous families who navigate family and corporate governance issues and want to be more effective.

Registration coming soon!

To learn more about Great Governance for Family Philanthropy, attend the online Information Session Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 2:00 – 2:30 PM ET.

Program Overview

Through a combination of governance theory, real life examples, self-assessment and group reflection, participants will explore the four domains of effective family philanthropy governance. This will include common challenges faced by generous families, and useful tools and practices they can implement to improve governance and tackle difficult governance challenges.

Eligible participants

Who Should Attend?

This program is ideal for those directly involved in family philanthropy.

We encourage families and/or foundations to register two people as a way to maximize insights and to enhance the application of learnings after the program.

Note: Great Governance for Family Philanthropy is open to PFC member organizations and non-member organizations who qualify based on the above eligibility criteria.

  • Wealth creators who involve family members in giving

    (such as through a foundation, DAF or business)

  • Partners, spouses, parents or next generation/extended family members who participate in family giving

    (through a foundation, DAF or business)

  • CEOs, Executive Directors or senior executives of a family’s foundation or giving program, or

  • People who currently serve as a non-family/independent director on a family foundation board

Learning Outcomes

By completing this 6-session program, you will be able to:

  • Describe the importance, value and benefits of effective governance practices for generous families.
  • Adopt principles and practices to improve your family’s philanthropy governance effectiveness
  • Engage in your governance and leadership responsibilities with greater confidence
  • Identify the root causes and better address sticky governance challenges in the family context

Program Schedule

  • Duration: this is a six-week course, offered in six weekly sessions
  • Dates: Wednesdays starting April 2nd through to May 7th, 2025
  • Time:
    • 9:30AM-12:00PM PT | 10:30AM-1:00PM MT |
    • 11:30AM-2:00PM CT | 12:30PM-3:00 PM ET |
    • 1:30PM-4:00PM AT
  • Format: All sessions will be held online
  • Language: All sessions will be held in English with English materials

  • Corporate & Family Governance Fundamentals

    Week 1 – Wednesday, April 2

  • People – Who’s involved and in what ways?

    Week 2 – Wednesday, April 9

  • Purposes – Who are we, what do we want, and why?

    Week 3 – Wednesday, April 16

  • Policies – How will we do this?

    Week 4 – Wednesday, April 23

  • Practices – What will help us be more effective?

    Week 5 – Wednesday, April 30

  • Action – What do we now? Reflections and peer learning

    Week 6 – Wednesday, May 7
Program Facilitator

Dr. Sharilyn Hale, C.Dir

President, Watermark Philanthropic Counsel

Dr. Sharilyn Hale helps generous people give well, engage their families, and channel their wealth and influence for good. Sharilyn works with leading philanthropists, generous families, and social purpose organizations across North America and the Caribbean, resulting in them having greater confidence and clarity in their giving, governance and work.

Sharilyn is an advisor with 2164 to support multi-generational family philanthropy, a faculty member of the Ultra High Net Worth Institute, and an advisor and trainer with BoardSource. A Chartered Director (C.Dir), Sharilyn blends the best of corporate and family governance in her work with private foundations and nonprofit boards.

An author, educator and mentor, Sharilyn serves on the Advisory Council for the Masters in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL) program at Carleton University, where she also teaches governance and leadership. Her award-winning doctoral research produced a governance model that helps multi-generational families approach their giving in a way that works.

PFC Member & Non-Member Pricing

Program Cost

This program has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Weston Family Foundation and Fondation J. Armand Bombardier. Thanks to their partnership, we are excited to offer a reduced fee to participants at the following rates:

This fee includes access to all 6 sessions, the small group session for implementation support, all program resources, and a robust learning experience designed to accelerate your governance goals.

  • PFC Member rate

    $1,200 for 1 person; $1,000 for each additional participant

  • Non-Member rate

    $1,600 for 1 person; $1,400 for each additional participant

Registration will be opening soon

If you have any questions, please email André Pawan Vashist Director of Learning & Collaboration