So You Want to Be a Philanthropist: How to Choose, Set Up and Manage a Successful Family Foundation

This book seems to be written as a way to convince people to hire Ms. Kittross to run their private foundations. She is very down on running one's foundation on one's own, complaining that laws are so difficult to understand and remember, and how much of a pain it is to have to pay attention to one's foundation. There are better books to read that give you the same and better information. "Creating a Private Foundation" by Roger D. Silk is much better and gives a more complete idea of how to create something like a foundation.

Ms. Kittross has written an excellent primer on a wide array of important considerations for those of us interested in personal philanthropy. She transcends the the problem found within too many general management books - the tendency to rely on platitudes and "keen insights into the obvious." The book is filled with important details and clear instructions. I especially appreciated the attention to some of the psychological aspects of giving, including the need for an honest and reflective process of what I, the possible philanthropist, have as my core motivations and expectations.

This book contains almost nothing regarding how to set up and manage a foundation, despite the title. The book mainly deals with how to give away your assets. Very disappointing. I want my money back.

I'm a financial advisor and I must admit that I didn't know about all the other factors that can enter into being a successful (and happy) philanthropist. I've just finished it--the first time--and am now beginning to read it again. There's a lot of 'meat' in here. Well written.

Great insight.

pleased

Small book backed with good information.

I’ve worked in the field for over 40 years, and this is one of the most impressive books on foundation philanthropy I’ve seen. And it is one of the shortest. Julia Kittross has managed to cover a wide array of very pertinent issues in an easily accessible way that will be invaluable to anyone considering the creation of a private foundation. She first presents the alternatives to this approach and urges the reader to think hard before deciding on the foundation route. Then she introduces the extensive set of issues that one will face if this route is chosen. Throughout the book the author raises the questions that need to be answered and provides numerous possible responses that might be considered, but she continually emphasizes that there is no single right way to decide. Instead a central theme of the book is that each philanthropist must examine his or her own values and personality, and this will create the filter for answering the policy and operational issues that will ensue.Despite its brevity and the author’s insistence that at some points professional advice is essential, the book nevertheless provides in its light-handed manner an enormous amount of solid information about legal, policy and administrative issues. And she references a large number of sources that can provide more in-depth information about specific matters. She acknowledges that there is controversy in the field over the answers to some foundation questions, and her broadminded presentation is more useful to a neophyte philanthropist than an attempted indoctrination into a particular viewpoint.Among those who would most benefit from reading this book are: 1) those entertaining the idea of starting some kind of philanthropic practice – they would be much better prepared for consultation with professional advisers and guided in their next steps; 2) Professional advisers – first, it might broaden their knowledge and, secondly, they might be prompted to encourage their clients to read the book; 3) Foundation officers – it would be a good refresher on the general field and a reminder that there are many worthwhile approaches for a foundation.Charles S. RooksExecutive Director, Meyer Memorial Trust, Portland, OR, 1982-2002Vice President, Council on Foundations, Washington, DC, 1989-1982Executive Director, Southeastern Council of Foundations, Atlanta, GA, 1972-1978Board Member, Miller Foundation, Portland, OR - currently