PAIB Report
Adam Meyerson, president of The Philanthropy Roundtable, comments on the new NCRP initiative
On June 8, the National Center for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) introduced a new project, Philanthropy’s Promise, an initiative to encourage grantmakers to voluntarily “allocate at least 50 percent of their grant dollars to address the unique needs of the poor, elderly, disabled and other underserved populations, and at least 25 percent towards supporting advocacy, community organizing and civic engagement to address the root causes of social problems.” This initiative channels at least some of the criteria outlined by NCRP in its 2009 Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best: Benchmarks to Assess and Enhance Grantmaker Impact.
After reviewing NCRP’s latest initiative, Roundtable president Adam Meyerson commented:
The Philanthropy Roundtable believes that voluntary initiatives such as “Philanthropy’s Promise” are consistent with a free society under two conditions. First, it is important that the initiatives remain truly voluntary, without the threat of coercion from regulators, legislators, community activists, and/or mandatory accreditation systems. Second, it is important that donors and foundations remain free to give to the many worthy charitable objectives that are not included in the NCRP “promise.” Activist groups should be free to criticize donors’ choices, and to seek to push philanthropic giving in a different direction, so long as they defend and respect the freedom of donors to make their own charitable decisions.
New op-ed raises debate about donor intent and private foundation money
Recently Peter Wood, president of the National Association of Scholars, posted an op-ed in the Chronicle of Higher Education in defense of donor intent and philanthropic freedom - what we believe is the right of donors and foundations to give to the issues, causes and organizations they value in the manner they choose, consistent with the law. He highlighted recent efforts to curtain this freedom by some activist groups including AB 624.
He notes: “American higher education depends profoundly on philanthropy, and whatever threatens philanthropy threatens American higher education… [t]here is actually a more serious threat that was much in the news… the effort to force foundations to “greenline” their philanthropy.”
The Greenlining Institute responded yesterday with an op-ed arguing among other issues for greater foundation transparency and diversity.
Peter Wood continued the debate by responding to Greenlining’s comments.
We’ll continue to follow this debate and keep your posted.
For the full debate visit:
11/17 Generosity, Trussed - by Peter Wood, National Association of Scholars
12/7 The Greenlining Institute Responds to Peter Wood - by Orson Aguilar and Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute
12/7 Who Owns Philanthropy? - by Peter Wood, National Association of Scholars
The Washington Legal Foundation just published its Summer 2010 edition of Conversations With…
Conversations With… The Honorable Dick Thornburgh, Dr. Larry P. Arnn, Heather R. Higgins, and Adam Meyerson
This edition is dedicated to threats to philanthropic freedom and features Former Attorney General of the United States and Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh leading a discussion with Dr. Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College; Heather R. Higgins, President and Director of The Randolph Foundation; and Adam Meyerson, President of The Philanthropy Roundtable. The three reflect on the American tradition of philanthropy and the growing movement to impose further government regulation on the philanthropic world.
Further Reading
Adam Meyerson comments on the passge of recent ACR bill
In today’s Washington Examiner and San Franciso Exmainer, Adam Meyerson, president of the Philantrhopy Roundtable, provides commentary on the recent bill passed in Florida to protect philanthropic giving.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Americans are increasingly worried about government overreach into areas of the economy and society that would have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago. So it is refreshing to see that private-sector leaders in at least one important area—charitable giving—are starting to push back.
Earlier this month, the state of Florida passed a law that actually limits the ability of the state to interfere with its citizens’ private charitable giving. The new law guarantees charitable donors the freedom to give to the charities they care about and in the manner that they think will be most effective.
Overall private giving is likely to increase, to the benefit of all. It’s an encouraging example that other states may soon be following.”
Click here to read the full op-eds:
- Washington Examiner
- San Franciso Exminer
Adam Meyerson, president of The Philanthropy Roundtable, recently delivered a speech entitled “The Generosity of America” as part of a lecture series sponsored by Hillsdale College’s Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship.
Adam notes “Private charitable giving is at the heart and soul of public discourse in our democracy. It makes possible our great think tanks, whether left, right or center. Name a great issue of public debate today: climate change, the role of government in health care, school choice, stem cell research, same-sex marriage. On all these issues, private philanthropy enriches debate by enabling organizations with diverse viewpoints to articulate and spread their message.”
He cautions us though, warning “this freedom to give is now under serious threat… three kinds of proposals coming from Capitol Hill, the IRS, state governments, and sometimes from the charitable sector itself, that should be of concern to all Americans.”
The full article is available here.
James Madison Institute examines the impact of advocacy groups on philanthropic giving
A recent policy brief from the James Madison Institute raises the antennas of Floridian donors to the tactics of advocacy groups that seek to redirect private giving to their specified causes.
Excerpt:“Surely donors deserve the right to choose where their money goes. After all, most gifts represent the bounty from the fruits of their labor — what’s left after life’s necessities have been purchased, payrolls have been met, or federal, state and local taxes have been paid.
Granted, some choices may seem eccentric. Yet here in Florida there also are heart-warming examples of how personal experiences ignited a passion for a cause. Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas, adopted as a child, gave much of his wealth to his foundation to support adoption and foster care. When one of Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino’s sons was diagnosed with autism, Marino started a foundation to support autism research. There are countless examples of such generosity by businesses, foundations and individuals across the country.”
To view the full policy brief and a related article select the links below.
Further Reading
Date: November 16, 2009
Sue Santa debated Aaron Dorfman, president of the National Committte for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), on NCRP’s recent report Criteria for Philanthropy at its Best®: Benchmarks to Assess and Enhance Grantmaking Impact.
Further Reading
Date: November 12, 2009
Location: Memphis, TN
Sue Santa debated Aaron Dorfman, president of the National Committte for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), on NCRP’s recent report Criteria for Philanthropy at its Best®: Benchmarks to Assess and Enhance Grantmaking Impact.
A new report dismisses arguments to control philanthropy by government
Suzanne Garment (editor of The Philanthropy Roundtable’s recent monograph How Public is Private Philanthropy?) has joined with Leslie Lenkowsky (Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University) to take on arguments for greater government control of philanthropy in a newly released working paper of the Washington Legal Foundation.
Continue reading...
Further Reading
Report suggests benchmarks for grantmaking
On March 3, 2009, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy released the report Criteria for Philanthropy at Its Best: Benchmarks to Assess and Enhance Grantmaker Impact.
Following are statements on the report by The Philanthropy Roundtable and the Alliance for Charitable Reform:
For more on the philanthropic community’s response to the NCRP report click on the PAIB Report tag below.
Page 1 of 3 pages 1 2 3 >
