Families that are deeply engaged in philanthropic giving may reach an inflection point and decide to significantly increase their giving. This change can be driven by a variety of factors including but not limited to a wealth event, such as the sale of a company, or a bequest.

Increasingly, for many philanthropic families, the decision to scale is not just about amplifying contributions; it's an opportunity to integrate equity and inclusion into the core of their strategy. This means considering how to elevate marginalized voices, communities, and organizations and address historical imbalances as they expand their philanthropic reach.

Laying the groundwork for a successful transition to larger scale philanthropy will require a review of foundational aspects such as revisiting your philanthropic mission and values to ensure alignment with your intent to scale.

When you become aware of an impending scaling event, it is important to assess your current governance structure and its ability to handle the expanded scope and complexity that scaling may entail.

RPA’s Philanthropy Framework, which includes an analysis of charter, social compact, and operating model, provides a useful structure for this assessment. By reflecting on points of alignment and misalignment, you can better prepare yourself for a scaling event. The Philanthropy Framework Self Assessment Tool is based on the Philanthropy Framework and is a helpful entry point to the structure to ultimately align resources for maximum impact.

Start by revisiting your organization's charter, which includes its scope, form of governance, and decision-making protocol. Some other characteristics related to charter include culture, how the organization approaches formal guidelines or rules, breadth of mandate, time horizon and focus on the present versus the past.

In examing your organizations charter before scaling, consider how your methods of decision-making as you scale might connect with founding ideals. Determine whether your governance structure is adaptable to the increased complexity that scaling brings. How will the increase in scale impact how your organization approaches formal guidelines, the breadth of its mandate, the time horizon, and its focus on the present versus the past? Take a look at your practices and any documentation, as funders who are considering changes in scale will need to examine and potentially revise the charter and other core documents to meet current social demands. By examining these aspects, you'll be well-prepared for the specific governance challenges that scaling entails.

Read the full PDF from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.