Technology in the 21st Century has provided countless ways to access, almost immediately, information that was previously either unavailable or very difficult to find.  Information about nonprofit organizations is just one small sliver of the type of information now readily available in the age of the Internet and wireless technology, and there are several communications tools suited to help philanthropists -- particularly those with limited personnel or volunteer support like small family foundations -- find information that can enhance their charitable giving.

• A Stanford Social Innovation Review article, "What's Next: Matchmaking for Philanthropists," examines several technological tools:
• Foundation Source Access, a website designed to introduce nonprofits to funders who prefer anonymity and provide data for funders to make well-informed decisions.  "Think of it as eHarmony for the family philanthropic set," suggests the article's author, Suzie Boss.
• Maternova, an online marketplace for best practices in maternal health;
• Admitting Failure, a website that analyzes "good failures" within the development sector;
• And a variety of antipoverty smartphone applications, such as mPowering.org.
• GuideStar aggregates reports and Form 990s from more than 1.8 million nonprofit organizations.
• SDG member The San Diego Foundation maintains a similar database for local nonprofits known as BetterGiving, which compiles information provided directly by the nonprofits themselves as well as Form 990 info from GuideStar.
• GiveWell, an independent, nonprofit charity evaluator that finds giving opportunities and publishes its analyses to help donors decide where to give.
• Philanthropedia produces analyses in a similar fashion to GiveWell.  It was recently acquired by GuideStar.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but should provide a good place to start!

Report helps family foundations with geographically dispersed board members
This study by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University investigates how family foundations manage governance, decision making, and, especially, daily work activities when the number of local board members diminishes.

Stewardship principles for family foundations

The Council on Foundations (COF) recommends that family foundations -- whether small or large, staffed or board managed -- utilize these voluntary stewardship principles to guide and strengthen their board governance, grantmaking, and management.

Family Foundations and the Law -- revised for 2012
COF has updated this resource to help family foundation directors, trustees and key staff navigate the "gray areas" that require professional legal guidance.

Special offer on NCFP CEO Leadership Guides
The National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) is offering a savings of nearly 30 percent to those who pre-order all three of its CEO Leadership Guide Series, which includes:

• Help Wanted: The Complete Guide to Hiring A Family Foundation CEO
• The Complete Guide to Evaluating the Family Foundation CEO
• The First Year: The Complete Guide for New Family Foundation CEOs and Their Boards of Directors.

Giving 2.0 blog series
Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, founder of Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society as well as SV2 and author of Giving 2.0, started a blog series last November on Huffington Post online that focuses on raising giving children.  Read the first three posts in her series: "The Apple Falls Not Far From the Giving Tree," "Generation Give," and "Philanthroteens: Transforming Teens Into Givers."

Bigger philanthropy isn't always better 

Cultivating a new generation of philanthropists
When his adult children had no interest in the work of their family foundation, Mark Powell turned to his grandchildren, which led him to discover that cultivating would-be philanthropists is much easier if you get them while they're young.  Read more about Mark's experience and his subsequent involvement with the PAL (Peer Assisted Leadership) class that promotes community service and leadership skills.

Recent article from the National Center for Family Philanthropy's Family Giving News
Discretionary Grants: Engaging Family... or Pandora's Box? (December 2011)