The Philanthropy Roundtable Blog

This next gen—which Goldseker reminds us can include those in their twenties all the way to those in their fifties—will have outsize impact because they will have more resources to give and (for the younger next gens) will give for a longer time, primarily because they are revolutionizing the “how” of philanthropy.

The following article is part of a Philanthropy Roundtable series examining recent calls for additional regulations on charitable giving and the works underpinning these proposals.

The Associated Press cites Roundtable CEO Elise Westhoff in a piece on the Arnold-Madoff proposal that seeks to impose regulations on Donor Advised Funds.

Whether providing COVID-19 relief, supporting healthcare infrastructure, or helping students adjust to online learning, these foundations provided much-needed assistance during a difficult year.

Since nation’s founding, Black people have organized to meet needs of their fellow citizens.

Our schools have enough problems functioning right now—we don’t need union issues added to those.

When it comes to private donations made to election-related efforts, the “dark money” label and its sinister implication is often attached to conservatives’ activities and dollars.

At a time when most of the country wants to find ways to heal our divisions, we should be wary of relying on sources that only reinforce ideological divisions.

Personal charitable giving accounts — or donor-advised funds — are the latest innovation in American philanthropy that is keeping thousands of small nonprofits across the country alive today.

In states across the country, politicians have increasingly demanded that charities and nonprofit organizations reveal the names and addresses of top supporters and donors.

The following interview is part of a Roundtable series highlighting how philanthropy can improve America’s health-care system by investing in medical education to achieve transformational results.

Study reports DAFs may hold more than $5 billion in appreciated assets

A proper rule of law, with various levels of government playing their appropriate roles, is essential to protecting our liberties.

The Donor Intent Hub encourages donors to think carefully about how they deploy their gifts, and provides them with useful guidelines for making sure their philanthropy accomplishes the good they intend.

$200,000 award to go to honored philanthropist’s charity of choice

Howard Husock writes at The Hill that Congressional Democrats would be wise to remember their long, historical support of donor privacy—dating back to the civil rights era—before calling for reforms like those in their much-touted legislation H.R. 1.

The following article is part of a Philanthropy Roundtable series examining recent calls for additional regulations on charitable giving and the works underpinning these proposals.

The following interview is part of a Philanthropy Roundtable series highlighting how philanthropy can improve America’s health-care system by investing in medical education to achieve transformational results.

Updates about important behind-the-scenes developments that could potentially impact philanthropic freedom and excellence.

There are many, many cases where people remain in prison because their Sixth Amendment rights were not protected.

The Philanthropy Roundtable, along with other organizations, sent a coalition letter to Congress urging them to reject new restrictions on charitable giving.

The Roundtable has tips for both new and experienced philanthropists looking to guide or redefine their giving.

Every year, parental choice in education is celebrated across the country during National School Choice Week.

The Philanthropy Roundtable’s mission is more important today than ever.

A medical expert explains the need for more virtue education in medical schools.

The Roundtable's experts provide a robust and informative assessment of the challenges to philanthropic freedom in a changed political environment.

This month, amidst a flurry of news, an important honor for the philanthropic giant Julius Rosenwald came one step closer to fruition.

Today'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 has resurrected a sweeping election reform bill that’s certain to stifle funding to political advocacy.

Questions about whether to maintain or increase payout rates during a crisis are difficult—and best left to a foundation’s own leaders.

What is philanthropy's equivalent of cancel culture? Howard Husock explains in FOXBusiness.

Even 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 will decide whether California can require charitable organizations to disclose the identities of their donors.

Patrice Lee Onwuka, adjunct senior fellow with The Philanthropy Roundtable, writes that private philanthropy has been indispensable during the pandemic.

Last month, Congress came together to pay homage to the incredible philanthropic legacy of Julius Rosenwald.

The Gates Foundation and other major donors can take risks that government and corporations cannot.

America is more charitable, dollar for dollar, than any other country. Let's keep it that way.

On IWF's "She Thinks" podcast, Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Elise Westhoff talks about the power of private giving.

What is the relationship between philanthropy and civil society? Howard Husock asks Charles Koch and Brian Hooks.

What can we do about the intense division, naming and shaming, and cancel culture we’ve seen accelerate leading up to this year’s election?

Earlier this month, Nasdaq President and CEO Adena Friedman spearheaded an initiative to attempt to bring more diversity, equity, and inclusion to Wall Street.

Musical artist Cardi B recently demonstrated an important lesson about the role private philanthropy plays in spurring giving.

Major foundations back a proposal that would force smaller donors to spend down their funds, writes Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Elise Westhoff.

For those following donor-privacy issues, there was an important development in the case known as Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Becerra.

Through capitalism, pharmaceutical companies are working to create a COVID-19 vaccine, writes Senior Executive Fellow Howard Husock.

As 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.

Retired Lt. General H.R. McMaster discusses how America could and should defend democracy through principled foreign policy.

The 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.

It seems there are more and more topics we shy away from out of fear of offending, being shouted down, or getting “canceled.”

Last week, we lost a champion of economic freedom and an institution in the free-market community, Walter E. Williams.

We should scrutinize what policymakers and administrators would do either to repudiate or exacerbate identity politics.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is under fire for its allegedly inadequate response to the call for racial justice.

Philanthropy Roundtable vice president of strategy and innovation Debi Ghate writes that diversity mandates harm, rather than help, the philanthropic sector.

Reihan Salam, president of the Manhattan Institute, explains how we can see a renaissance of our American cities.

The Roundtable's Sandra Swirski warns of the consequences of new DAF regulation in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Elise Westhoff, president and CEO of The Philanthropy Roundtable, responds to a proposal to regulate the philanthropic sector.

After the consumerism of the Thanksgiving weekend concludes, Giving Tuesday encourages Americans to do good with their time and treasure.

In 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.

John Tyler talks donor-advised funds and giving for the long-term.

This year has seen an immediate and generous response to address racial inequity by individual donors and institutional philanthropy alike.

The Roundtable hosted a pleasantly optimistic conversation about the election and what the outcomes mean for those who want to pursue pro-liberty policies.

John Tyler talks family foundations, regulation of the philanthropic sector, and the truth about donor-advised funds.

The president of the University of Chicago, Dr. Robert Zimmer, discusses the importance of creating a climate of free speech on campus.

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

Recently, 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.

John Legend picked an online fight with Mark Cuban over the subject of philanthropy, of all things. Who won?

Veterans can be powerful civic assets, but only if they are equipped and deployed to fill those roles.

We should be concerned about all forms of threatened violence, regardless of whether it’s aimed at progressive nonprofits, conservative organizations, or anyone in between.

Given 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.

Elise Westhoff explains how a Biden administration could change philanthropy.

We 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.

Earlier this year, The Philanthropy Roundtable published a guidebook focused entirely on protecting donor intent, a key aspect of philanthropic excellence.

Sandra 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 from Oklahoma to Oregon gave more than $1.22 billion to charity through donor-advised funds this year.

Giving 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.

In a year afflicted by the coronavirus pandemic, will Americans keep their donations up until the end? A recent survey has some good news.

Helpful news for individuals, families, and foundation boards engaged in time-horizon conversations.

I sat down with John Tyler of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to get up to speed on a recent proposal to regulate DAFs.

We believe this is the first time that authors from both sides of the debate have met face to face to discuss their perspectives.

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

Two thought leaders share their perspectives on some complex questions surrounding the role of free speech.

The Constitution has never been interpreted as a color-blind document, even though giants such as Frederick Douglass believed it could be.

The New York-based nonprofit delivers food, and connection, to vulnerable populations during the pandemic.

Donor-advised funds are efficient and effective tools that help donors get resources out the door in times of critical need.

On the Supreme Court, how might Judge Amy Coney Barrett rule on issues of donor privacy?

Philanthropy Roundtable vice president of strategy and innovation Debi Ghate writes that security threats plague conservatives, not just progressives.

Out of the 1,600 children Better Together has served, 96 percent have stayed out of the foster care system entirely.

We 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.

If 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.

Key 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.

Philanthropy 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.

The 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.

It is going to take litigation to challenge this unconstitutional California law.

deLaski Family Foundation President Kathleen deLaski decided to “go all in” on reinventing college with an opportunity for disrupting higher education.

When free speech grows rarer on so many campuses, how are donors to respond?

When was America really founded: 1776 or 1619? The Philanthropy Roundtable is hosting two scholars for a debate.

A 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.

One 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.

In the years since 9/11, millions of philanthropic dollars have been poured into the veteran and military family space. What works best?

A recent Forbes ranking of billionaire philanthropists minimizes methods necessary for innovation, problem-solving, and sustainability.

When 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 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.

“Critics claim that DAFs unduly postpone funds needed by charities, but the vehicle offers many benefits that may outweigh its costs.”

A recently launched experiment supports parents in educating their own kids—during distance learning or otherwise.

Thirty 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.

While 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.

A majority of donors plan to keep giving to religious causes—despite covid-19.

Philanthropy recently spoke with Jonathan Greenberg of the Jack Miller Family Foundation about mobs tearing down statues and how donors can fund civics education.

The Supreme Court just delivered a victory for school choice, but only time will tell how much it will affect students across the U.S.

A RealClearPolitics spinoff from the Spring 2020 issue of Philanthropy magazine.

Partnership Schools, an innovative network of Catholic educators, expands to Cleveland.

A spinoff in The Hill from the forthcoming Spring 2020 issue of Philanthropy magazine.

A RealClearPolitics spinoff from the forthcoming Summer 2020 issue of Philanthropy magazine.

Philanthropic giving boomed in 2019. What will the future bring?

Donors big and small are helping mom and pop stay open.

There 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.

The covid-19 crisis created numerous problems in the food sector. Savvy nonprofits and donors connected the dots.

Media 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.

Leo Linbeck on covid and its consequences.

A new fund provides crisis aid to artists in need.

Meet a ten-gallon donor.

The executive director of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust explains how the foundation is responding to the coronavirus.

Dr. Tony Atala—an international leader in the field of regenerative medicine, which creates tissues that can replace failing body parts—discusses covid-19.