Family Philanthropy
The Nation’s First Endowed Chair in Family Philanthropy
Expanding the practice and public understanding of family philanthropy

Family foundations and other family donors play an essential and increasing, yet often unheralded, role in addressing social challenges and enhancing the quality of life in communities across the globe.

The Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy at the Johnson Center works with a network of partners to pursue a comprehensive, international program of applied research, speaking and writing, professional education and teaching, and other activities.

The Chair was made possible by the vision and generosity of the Frey Foundation, one of Michigan’s largest family foundations, which was established in 1974 in Grand Rapids by Edward J. and Frances T. Frey.

We are living in one of the most significant eras for family philanthropy in history. A new generation of eager donors with unprecedented resources are bursting on the scene. Innovation is happening at a torrid pace, and fundamental critiques of philanthropy have never been so widely debated. We live in interesting times for family philanthropy.”
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Michael Moody, Ph.D.
Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy
Michael Moody
Frey Foundation Chair
Leading the Center’s Work on Family Philanthropy
Since 2010, Michael Moody has served as the inaugural holder of the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy at the Johnson Center. A cultural sociologist who has been actively working to understand and improve philanthropy for 30 years, he serves as an accessible guide to the rapidly evolving and complex world of philanthropy and social innovation, helping diverse audiences see the vital role that giving plays in society and in their own lived experiences.
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Lessons for Effective Programs

Next Gen Donor Learning

Major donors from Gen X and later generations have unprecedented resources to give and are crafting their philanthropic identities — discovering what kind of donors they want to be and trying to learn how to become those donors. This report developed in collaboration with 21/64 for the Greater Houston Community Foundation offers guidance on designing effective programs to help guide the learning journeys of these essential next gen donors.
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Research and Initiatives for Family Philanthropy

The Frey Foundation Chair’s work includes applied research and scholarship, international thought leadership through speaking and writing, convening and field-building, curriculum development and training, advising, and much more.