Designing a Philanthropy Structure That Engages the Next Generation

Profile

A three-generation family wished to formalise its giving after several years of fragmented donations to charities in Europe and emerging markets.

Challenge

There was strong interest in education and healthcare, but no shared framework for priorities, decision making or measurement. Older family members prioritised long-standing relationships with institutions, younger members wanted more hands-on involvement and exposure to newer impact themes.

What Rains Family Office Did

Facilitated a series of structured conversations to agree the thematic focus and geographic scope of the programme, and to set an annual budget for philanthropic activity.
Worked with legal and tax advisors to establish a foundation paired with a donor-advised structure, allowing both long-term commitments and flexible annual grants.
Helped create a governance model in which the older generation sits on the foundation board, while younger members serve on a grants committee with defined responsibilities.
Introduced a simple reporting template for supported organisations, focusing on a limited number of output and outcome indicators appropriate to each project.

Outcome

The family now runs a coherent programme that funds a mix of multi-year institutional partnerships and smaller, targeted projects. Younger members have a structured role in research and selection, which has improved engagement and created a practical way to learn about capital allocation and accountability.