The Philanthropy Roundtable Blog

Does Philanthropy Need to be More Woke?
Jan 18, 2021Today's social justice aims not for the equality sought by Martin Luther King Jr., but for equity, which leads to special treatment for some groups over others.

Congress Continues Campaign to Chill Political Speech
Jan 14, 2021Congress has resurrected a sweeping election reform bill that’s certain to stifle funding to political advocacy.

Foundation Payout Decisions and the Folly of One-Size-Fits-All Mandates
Jan 14, 2021Questions about whether to maintain or increase payout rates during a crisis are difficult—and best left to a foundation’s own leaders.

Jeff Bezos, Cancel Culture, and Charitable Giving in America
Jan 13, 2021What is philanthropy's equivalent of cancel culture? Howard Husock explains in FOXBusiness.

Why Charter Schools Deserve Another Look from Philanthropy
Jan 11, 2021Even though public charter schools don’t benefit from the funding levels of public schools, they still manage, in many cases, to provide better educational outcomes.

The Supreme Court May Set an Important Donor-Privacy Precedent
Jan 11, 2021The Supreme Court will decide whether California can require charitable organizations to disclose the identities of their donors.

Private Philanthropy: The Indispensable Force in the Pandemic
Jan 06, 2021Patrice Lee Onwuka, adjunct senior fellow with The Philanthropy Roundtable, writes that private philanthropy has been indispensable during the pandemic.

Congress Recognizes Julius Rosenwald’s Philanthropy
Jan 04, 2021Last month, Congress came together to pay homage to the incredible philanthropic legacy of Julius Rosenwald.

Why Philanthropy Was Critical to Developing COVID-19 Vaccines
Jan 03, 2021The Gates Foundation and other major donors can take risks that government and corporations cannot.

Are We Looking at a Death Tax on Charitable Giving?
Dec 31, 2020America is more charitable, dollar for dollar, than any other country. Let's keep it that way.

The Power of Private Giving
Dec 24, 2020On IWF's "She Thinks" podcast, Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Elise Westhoff talks about the power of private giving.

Charles Koch on Philanthropy and Civil Society
Dec 23, 2020What is the relationship between philanthropy and civil society? Howard Husock asks Charles Koch and Brian Hooks.

Worth Watching: A Discussion About Our Common Values
Dec 22, 2020What can we do about the intense division, naming and shaming, and cancel culture we’ve seen accelerate leading up to this year’s election?

The Problem with Nasdaq’s Diversity Quotas
Dec 17, 2020Earlier this month, Nasdaq President and CEO Adena Friedman spearheaded an initiative to attempt to bring more diversity, equity, and inclusion to Wall Street.

Celebrity Cardi B Turns Criticism into a Philanthropic Boost
Dec 16, 2020Musical artist Cardi B recently demonstrated an important lesson about the role private philanthropy plays in spurring giving.

The Left Wants a Philanthropy of the Few
Dec 15, 2020Major foundations back a proposal that would force smaller donors to spend down their funds, writes Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Elise Westhoff.

The Supreme Court May Soon Rule on Donor Privacy
Dec 15, 2020For those following donor-privacy issues, there was an important development in the case known as Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Becerra.

Big Pharma and Traditional Capitalism to the Rescue
Dec 11, 2020Through capitalism, pharmaceutical companies are working to create a COVID-19 vaccine, writes Senior Executive Fellow Howard Husock.

A Record-Breaking GivingTuesday—Even During the Pandemic
Dec 09, 2020As we kick off the end-of-year giving season, charities can take some confidence that when needed, Americans will still answer the call to help.

A Lt. General’s Perspective on Much More than National Security
Dec 08, 2020Retired Lt. General H.R. McMaster discusses how America could and should defend democracy through principled foreign policy.

Philanthropy Roundtable Survey: Children’s Mental Health Funding in the Time of COVID-19
Dec 07, 2020The Philanthropy Roundtable surveyed members who fund children’s mental health initiatives to determine if their plans for funding have changed, and if technical assistance is needed to meet their philanthropic goals and objectives.

Launching a New Podcast: ‘Can We Talk About It?’
Dec 07, 2020It seems there are more and more topics we shy away from out of fear of offending, being shouted down, or getting “canceled.”

RIP, Walter Williams: Champion of Economic Freedom
Dec 07, 2020Last week, we lost a champion of economic freedom and an institution in the free-market community, Walter E. Williams.

The Identity Politics Policy Portfolio
Dec 07, 2020We should scrutinize what policymakers and administrators would do either to repudiate or exacerbate identity politics.

Donor Intent at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Dec 04, 2020The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is under fire for its allegedly inadequate response to the call for racial justice.

Diversity Mandates From Foundations Make It Harder for Nonprofits to Do Their Jobs Well
Dec 04, 2020Philanthropy Roundtable vice president of strategy and innovation Debi Ghate writes that diversity mandates harm, rather than help, the philanthropic sector.

ICYMI: Why Urban American Matters: Race, Opportunity, and the American Future
Dec 04, 2020Reihan Salam, president of the Manhattan Institute, explains how we can see a renaissance of our American cities.

Sandra Swirski Argues New DAF Regulation is 'Misguided'
Dec 04, 2020The Roundtable's Sandra Swirski warns of the consequences of new DAF regulation in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Elise Westhoff Responds to the Arnold-Madoff Proposal
Dec 01, 2020Elise Westhoff, president and CEO of The Philanthropy Roundtable, responds to a proposal to regulate the philanthropic sector.

Small Donors Should Give Local for Big Impact
Dec 01, 2020After the consumerism of the Thanksgiving weekend concludes, Giving Tuesday encourages Americans to do good with their time and treasure.

Mark Cuban and John Legend Display Conflicting Visions of the Poverty Fight
Nov 30, 2020In a recent Twitter back-and-forth, the celebrities debated about private giving. Read Patrice Onwuka’s take in her recent op-ed for the Washington Examiner.

Interview with John Tyler, Part Two
Nov 24, 2020John Tyler talks donor-advised funds and giving for the long-term.

Two Experts Discuss: Does Philanthropy Have a Race Problem?
Nov 24, 2020This year has seen an immediate and generous response to address racial inequity by individual donors and institutional philanthropy alike.

The Election and Implications for the Pro-Freedom Agenda
Nov 23, 2020The Roundtable hosted a pleasantly optimistic conversation about the election and what the outcomes mean for those who want to pursue pro-liberty policies.

Interview with John Tyler, Part One
Nov 23, 2020John Tyler talks family foundations, regulation of the philanthropic sector, and the truth about donor-advised funds.

Free Expression, University Culture, and the Role of Leadership
Nov 20, 2020The president of the University of Chicago, Dr. Robert Zimmer, discusses the importance of creating a climate of free speech on campus.

Justice Alito Defends the First Amendment
Nov 18, 2020Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito defended the First Amendment rights to free speech and religious liberty, warning that support for each is slipping.

Some Genuine Questions for the Ford Foundation’s Darren Walker
Nov 17, 2020Recently, I’ve been following a lot of what Darren Walker, the CEO of the Ford Foundation, has been saying. I came across an interview he did in 2019, and I have to say, I found myself a little confused.

Legend v. Cuban: A Twitter Battle Royale Over…Philanthropy?
Nov 16, 2020John Legend picked an online fight with Mark Cuban over the subject of philanthropy, of all things. Who won?

Changing the Narrative About Veterans
Nov 13, 2020Veterans can be powerful civic assets, but only if they are equipped and deployed to fill those roles.

Security Threats? Donor Privacy Matters
Nov 13, 2020We should be concerned about all forms of threatened violence, regardless of whether it’s aimed at progressive nonprofits, conservative organizations, or anyone in between.

President-Elect Biden Has a Choice to Make About Philanthropy
Nov 12, 2020Given the seriousness of what Joe Biden may need to throw his energy and effort into addressing, it seems he has a choice to make when it comes to philanthropy.

What Biden’s Win and the Stock Market Surge Mean for Giving
Nov 12, 2020Elise Westhoff explains how a Biden administration could change philanthropy.

A Win in California! Prop 16 Goes Down
Nov 10, 2020We consider this a true win for anyone who believes in a vision of America where people, regardless of race or other characteristics, can pursue opportunity.

A 'Must-Read' for Higher Ed Donors
Nov 09, 2020Earlier this year, The Philanthropy Roundtable published a guidebook focused entirely on protecting donor intent, a key aspect of philanthropic excellence.

Biden’s Tax Proposals Cause Reason for Concern About Charitable Giving
Nov 06, 2020Sandra Swirski, executive director of ACR, wrote to The Chronicle of Philanthropy expressing concerns about how Joe Biden's tax plan could affect the philanthropic sector.

Community Foundations Use DAFs to Give Away $1.22 Billion
Nov 06, 2020Community foundations from Oklahoma to Oregon gave more than $1.22 billion to charity through donor-advised funds this year.

Small Donations Make a Big Impact
Nov 05, 2020Giving shot up in the first half of 2020. For that, you can thank not just the billionaire philanthropists, but thousands of donors with small gifts.

COVID-19 Giving: Donors Aren’t Tapped Out Yet
Nov 04, 2020In a year afflicted by the coronavirus pandemic, will Americans keep their donations up until the end? A recent survey has some good news.

New Reports on Strategic Time Horizons in Philanthropy
Nov 03, 2020Helpful news for individuals, families, and foundation boards engaged in time-horizon conversations.

Good to Know! Proposals Calling for Regulation of the Philanthropy Sector
Nov 02, 2020I sat down with John Tyler of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to get up to speed on a recent proposal to regulate DAFs.

1619 v. 1776: The First Direct Debate Between Scholars
Nov 02, 2020We believe this is the first time that authors from both sides of the debate have met face to face to discuss their perspectives.

Think Tanks Awarded for Outstanding Policy Achievement
Oct 30, 2020When SPN released its annual Bob Williams Awards for Outstanding Policy Achievement, organizations that helped Americans get through the pandemic topped the list.

The Latest Numbers on Campus Free Speech, and More
Oct 29, 2020Two thought leaders share their perspectives on some complex questions surrounding the role of free speech.

Is Our Constitution Color-Blind?
Oct 28, 2020The Constitution has never been interpreted as a color-blind document, even though giants such as Frederick Douglass believed it could be.

Physical Distance, Neighborly Connection: Meet Invisible Hands
Oct 28, 2020The New York-based nonprofit delivers food, and connection, to vulnerable populations during the pandemic.

Donor-Advised Funds Are Important Tools for Private Foundation Grantmaking
Oct 27, 2020Donor-advised funds are efficient and effective tools that help donors get resources out the door in times of critical need.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Donor Privacy
Oct 26, 2020On the Supreme Court, how might Judge Amy Coney Barrett rule on issues of donor privacy?

Conservative Groups Face Safety Threats. It’s Not Just Progressives.
Oct 26, 2020Philanthropy Roundtable vice president of strategy and innovation Debi Ghate writes that security threats plague conservatives, not just progressives.

How a Florida Nonprofit Keeps Kids out of Foster Care
Oct 26, 2020Out of the 1,600 children Better Together has served, 96 percent have stayed out of the foster care system entirely.

The Vanishing Trial: Watching Our Sixth Amendment Protections Disappear
Oct 26, 2020We discussed the trial penalty and its consequences, and much more—such as why pressure on “white-led” organizations from progressive funders will hurt more than help.

The Tyranny of Anti-Merit
Oct 23, 2020If one values liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility as we do at the Roundtable, one might bristle at even seeing "The Tyranny of Merit" as the title of a book.

COVID-19, the National Economy, and Mental Health
Oct 14, 2020Key takeaways from a discussion of the effects of COVID-19 on the national economy and its relation to rising rates of diseases and deaths of despair.

Elise Westhoff Responds to Attack on Philanthropic Freedom
Oct 09, 2020Philanthropy Roundtable president and CEO Elise Westhoff wrote a letter to the editor at the Chronicle of Philanthropy in response to a recent push to curb philanthropic freedom. Read more.

Americans’ Understanding of Basic Civics is Growing, but Only Partly
Oct 09, 2020The recent turmoil in American politics may have helped more Americans understand basic civics. Yet, despite these signs of progress, civic educators still have work to do.

Stop the Slippery Slope: First Gender, Now More
Oct 08, 2020It is going to take litigation to challenge this unconstitutional California law.

Community Colleges are Getting Students Back to Work
Oct 08, 2020deLaski Family Foundation President Kathleen deLaski decided to “go all in” on reinventing college with an opportunity for disrupting higher education.

Which Colleges Support Free Speech?
Oct 07, 2020When free speech grows rarer on so many campuses, how are donors to respond?

The 1776 Commission: A Brief Guide for the Perplexed
Oct 07, 2020When was America really founded: 1776 or 1619? The Philanthropy Roundtable is hosting two scholars for a debate.

Honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Respect Donor Intent
Oct 05, 2020A suggestion from a Congressman to rename the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University adds a new twist to donor intent lore, bringing us into the realm of the just plain silly.

The Philanthropy Roundtable Urges Congress NOT to Force More Giving from Donor-advised Funds and Foundations
Oct 05, 2020One small group is attempting to dictate the rules and terms for an entire industry in a sphere that is voluntary and well-intentioned to begin with.

Nineteen Years After 9/11: How to Support Veterans and Their Families
Oct 01, 2020In the years since 9/11, millions of philanthropic dollars have been poured into the veteran and military family space. What works best?

How We Value Charitable Contributions Matters
Oct 01, 2020A recent Forbes ranking of billionaire philanthropists minimizes methods necessary for innovation, problem-solving, and sustainability.

Campus Cancel Culture: Three C’s We Don’t Want to See
Sep 25, 2020When most campuses aren’t even operating at normal capacity due to the pandemic, what could possibly be driving the numbers of these kinds of cases up so noticeably? The answer: cancel culture has taken root on campus.

The Roundtable Joins “Chorus of Unified Voices” in the Ninth Circuit
Sep 18, 2020The Roundtable hasn’t had the opportunity to file many amicus briefs in support of legal challenges that affect the philanthropic freedom of donors to give to causes they value and to be free of restriction or intimidation in doing so.

Three Good Reasons Why Donors Might Postpone Releasing DAF Dollars
Sep 16, 2020“Critics claim that DAFs unduly postpone funds needed by charities, but the vehicle offers many benefits that may outweigh its costs.”


Racism at the Human Rights Commission
Sep 08, 2020
One of the Best Ways to Protect Private Giving
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How a New Fund Helps Parents Teach Their Children
Aug 24, 2020A recently launched experiment supports parents in educating their own kids—during distance learning or otherwise.

Replacing Violence with Community
Aug 21, 2020Thirty years ago, when Father Greg Boyle was a pastor of Dolores Mission Church in Boyle Heights, he became troubled by the prevalence of gang violence in his neighborhood.

Philanthropists Helping America Restart
Aug 18, 2020While many donors have turned toward humanitarian efforts to ease the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, some are looking at a different sort of humanitarian work.
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Good News for Religious Giving
Aug 11, 2020A majority of donors plan to keep giving to religious causes—despite covid-19.

Ignorance, Anarchy, Even Dissolution
Jul 21, 2020Philanthropy recently spoke with Jonathan Greenberg of the Jack Miller Family Foundation about mobs tearing down statues and how donors can fund civics education.

A Victory for School Choice
Jul 13, 2020The Supreme Court just delivered a victory for school choice, but only time will tell how much it will affect students across the U.S.

Private Donations and National Defense
Jul 11, 2020A RealClearPolitics spinoff from the Spring 2020 issue of Philanthropy magazine.

Strengthening Catholic Schools
Jun 29, 2020Partnership Schools, an innovative network of Catholic educators, expands to Cleveland.
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Americans’ Extraordinary Response in Time of Crisis: Giving
Jun 26, 2020A spinoff in The Hill from the forthcoming Spring 2020 issue of Philanthropy magazine.

Great Gifts of Health From U.S. Donors
Jun 23, 2020A RealClearPolitics spinoff from the forthcoming Summer 2020 issue of Philanthropy magazine.

The State of Charitable Giving
Jun 22, 2020Philanthropic giving boomed in 2019. What will the future bring?

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A New Way for Churches to Serve Hospitals
Jun 16, 2020There are 124 hospitals in the state of Arizona, and more than 1,000 churches. During the coronavirus pandemic, a new charitable effort was launched to connect them.
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Restaurant Workers Feed the Hungry
Jun 12, 2020The covid-19 crisis created numerous problems in the food sector. Savvy nonprofits and donors connected the dots.

Organizing Small Donors in Support of Local Reporting
Jun 08, 2020Media companies are laying off employees by the hundreds during the covid-19 crisis. Yet the Long Beach Post, a regional news website with 20 employees, just hired two new reporters.

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Interview with Steve Moore
May 15, 2020The executive director of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust explains how the foundation is responding to the coronavirus.

A Star Medical Researcher Looks at the Coronavirus
May 13, 2020Dr. Tony Atala—an international leader in the field of regenerative medicine, which creates tissues that can replace failing body parts—discusses covid-19.