New pressures are building on philanthropic freedom. With these in mind, The Philanthropy Roundtable is assembling a library of relevant classic readings. These sketch the vital role private giving has always played in improving America—and outline private philanthropy’s continuing importance to the nation. We have selected these readings for their readability, intellectual significance, and timeliness, and edited them to be compact and to the point. We will be adding many more items in the weeks to come, so please continue to visit this resource library as it expands. We hope you will use these great texts to educate your staff, trustees, philanthropic colleagues, political representatives, and fellow citizens on the crucial power and value to America of independent private giving.
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What’s Behind Recent Attacks on the Charitable Tax Deduction? by Joanne Florino
Opponents believe the government knows how to spend money better than private citizens, that the public sector can pick winners and losers in the charitable sector, and that monolithic solutions trump diversity and experimentation.
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“A Free Society and a Good Society—We Can Have Both” by Richard Cornuelle
The key is to let privately funded organizations compete with the government.
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“Necessary, Important, and in Jeopardy” by Daniel Patrick Moynihan
A timely warning from the late Senate icon on the subject of government vs. private social aid.
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“The Myth of the ‘Third’ Sector” by Irving Kristol
Philanthropy is part of the private sector, and needs to be defended against centralizing impulses.
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“The Secret to American Flourishing” by Alexis de Tocqueville
Social concerns have always been tackled in the U.S. by individuals voluntarily gathered together in collective action.
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“America is Built on Giving” by Adam Meyerson
Philanthropic freedom is an indispensable part of political freedom.
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“Want Real Community? Stick to a Human Scale” by Richard Cornuelle
Rather than blaming individualism or capitalism for eroded community, we should recognize that the real culprit is the temptation to do everything by national government.
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“Democracy in Action” by Stephen L. Carter
Individuals acting as donors measure community needs differently than centralized policy makers.