The Foundation Incubator

The Foundation Incubator 2004 Brochure

A passion for learning. An affinity for collaboration. These qualities unite the members of The Foundation Incubator. In an intimate and trusting environment, connections are made that become meaningful relationships. Incisive discussion yields fresh thinking. Young philanthropists emerge as leaders and mature philanthropists advance the field.

A Total Learning Environment
The Foundation Incubator offers a total learning environment that embraces a host of learning styles. Programming is designed to build on previous knowledge. Emphasis is on the individual - you choose the combination of programs and services that will address your needs.

Nurturing Creativity and Innovation
In the nonprofit world, resources are perpetually stretched and the need is overwhelming. TFI exists to help funders work more effectively by becoming better informed and more creative. The focus is on innovation - on contemplating difficult questions, providing forums for deep thinking, encouraging alternatives, and building on the tried-and-true.

Building Relationships
Networking is crucial to any successful endeavor, but particularly in philanthropy, where so much work is done in isolation. Membership in TFI offers access to peers, professionals, and key decision-makers, as well as the Incubator's accomplished staff. These relationships develop in a climate of candor and authenticity. Confidential group discussions foster meaningful connections that lead to learning and increased expertise.

Specific membership benefits include:

Peer-to-peer networking and collaboration
Consultation, coaching and mentoring
Referrals to experts
Multi-use Facility Options
Customized Support Services

Peer-to-peer networking and collaboration
TFI offers networking, learning, and collaboration opportunities to share approaches, new ideas, and practices from a variety of perspectives that will stimulate your own creativity and improve your effectiveness.

Enjoy advance notice and priority registration for seminars, workshops, and briefings at TFI.
Join a small Learning Exchange that meets monthly to focus in-depth on member-selected topics.
Participate in informal Issue Roundtables with peers and guest experts.
Participate in collaborative grantmaking, co-fund with colleagues.

Consultation and coaching
Consult with experts on issues of concern to you.

TFI staff will assist you with your individual questions and "just-in-time" informational needs.
Enjoy mentorship opportunities with other experienced Bay Area-grantmakers drawn from TFI's extensive network of existing foundations.

*Click here for more information.

Referrals to experts

Receive referrals or introductions to funder affinity groups and existing collaborations.
Receive referrals to vetted professional advisors and philanthropic consultants.

*Click here for more information.

Multi-use Facility Options

TFI is centrally located in Palo Alto, in the heart of Silicon Valley, just off Highway 101. Free, ample parking for you and your guests is a big plus, offered at no extra cost. Large, private, windowed offices with lovely views in an attractive office park are available to lease on a short- or long-term basis. Office facilities include spacious, Internet-ready, furnished workstations, staffed reception desk, and 24/7 access, all for a very reasonable price.

Hold your meetings in TFI's conference facilities. Reserve the large conference room (up to 40 people) or two small meeting rooms (6-12 people) for your events.
Take advantage of Guest Desk availability - one free day per quarter of desk, telephone and Internet access is included in your membership. Additional time may be reserved for a fee.
Enjoy complementary mail handling and staffed reception to greet your guests.
If you wish, lease a large windowed office or spacious workstation on a short- or long-term basis.

Customized Support Services
For additional convenience, a menu of customized support services, available on a fee basis, makes meetings easy to conduct and business administration tasks a breeze.

Meeting Support

Business meeting catering
Beverage service set-up and clean-up
Special conference room setup and cleanup
Audio-visual equipment rental; includes setup and technical assistance (LCD and overhead projector, audio conferencing access)

How to Become a Member
Please call us at 650-354-1600 or fill out our online application form. A staff member will contact you to arrange an appointment at your convenience.

Cost of membership
The membership fee is calculated on a sliding scale, based on total assets, as $90 per million dollars in assets. If assets don't reflect the grantmaking levels of the foundation, the fee is calculated as $70 per $100,000 of grantmaking. There is a minimum fee of $1,200 and a maximum of $10,000 per year.

If Foundation assets are…..	If grantmaking budget exceeds 10% of assets, and grantmaking budget is…..	Membership Fee is…..
$0 - $15 million		$1,200 minimum fee
$15 - $111 million		$90 per million in assets
Over $111 million		$10,000 maximum fee
	$0 - $2 million	$1,200 minimum fee
	Over $2 million	$70 per $100,000 of grantmaking $10,000 maximum fee

A special investor membership, with accompanying benefits, is available for major foundations interested in supporting TFI at a deeper level. For details please contact us at 650-354-1600.

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