For three decades, Philanthropy magazine has played a critical role in the philanthropic sector. It has offered a unique perspective, highlighted important information and shared fascinating stories about donors and nonprofits advancing liberty, opportunity and personal responsibility.
As an avid reader of the magazine, I have a deep appreciation for Philanthropy’s historical significance and influential content. While leading a family foundation before coming to the Philanthropy Roundtable, I remember contacting philanthropists and professional staff featured in the magazine as I explored areas of interest. The advice and perspectives I received helped shape some of our grantmaking efforts.
While the magazine will not continue in print, the Roundtable is committed to preserving the digital future for this well-regarded content. We will continue to share stories, information, resources and opportunities with our community.
One of the most important aspects of the magazine is the valuable, constructive dialogue that it sparks among donors and those interested in philanthropy. The Roundtable has always believed in the critical role civil society plays in solving some of our nation’s most pressing challenges. While others in the field advocate for expanding the role of government to address societal issues, the magazine has provided the stories and intellectual arguments for empowering communities and individuals to solve problems rather than imposing top-down or one-size-fits-all solutions.
Philanthropy’s compelling content has offered an alternative to the prevailing narrative in the media and in the sector—we defend the free market, wealth creation and the role of philanthropy in promoting pathways to opportunity and encouraging human flourishing.
If you have followed the work of the Roundtable in the last year, you have seen our steadfast commitment to our organizational values in every aspect of our work. We have boldly communicated our core principles, and as a result, we have created a space for more dialogue on issues of importance to the community.
We have also expanded the frequency of our communication to be responsive to current events and broadened our reach to new audiences. In addition to creating an online weekly newsletter, the Roundtable Roundup, we added a blog, a podcast, a monthly donor briefing series, regular webinars and a robust social media presence. Even more importantly, we’ve significantly increased our traditional media presence, appearing in nearly every major, national newspaper—The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and The Hill—as well as many other news outlets across the country.
One of the primary reasons I was drawn to the Roundtable’s mission and took the leap to become its CEO is my belief that we have an incredible opportunity to reach not only our traditional constituents, but the next generation—America’s future philanthropists—with our time-tested principles. The stories we have shared for decades should be amplified, and we must continue to elevate our philanthropic community’s valuable endeavors.
The Roundtable team is courageous and deeply committed to our core principles. We are eager to continue the important work of the magazine with an ever-growing audience. Ultimately, we have embraced the opportunity to build a vibrant American philanthropic movement that strengthens our free society. We are fortunate to be able to build on a solid foundation, including the influential content of Philanthropy magazine. The show will go on—we’ll see you online.
Elise Westhoff is the president and CEO of the Philanthropy Roundtable.
