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The McGowan Fellows Program: Molding Future Leaders, Respecting Donor Intent

We are the third generation of the family of William G. McGowan, founder of MCI, who was known for being the “great disruptor” of AT&T’s communications monopoly. As we begin to help lead our family’s foundation, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, we feel understanding the guidance from the Fund’s benefactor – and applying it in the context of the 21st century – is our responsibility.

When Private Foundations Give Through DAFs: Exploring the How and Why of This Practice

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are charitable giving accounts used by many Americans as a flexible, accessible way to give to charities. Popular with individual donors, DAFs are also sometimes used by private foundations to facilitate their donations.

Jack Salmon in Richmond Times-Dispatch: To Preserve Philanthropy in Virginia, Protect the Donors 

In an op-ed published March 3, 2024 by Richmond Times-Dispatch, Philanthropy Roundtable Director of Policy Research Jack Salmon writes that according to the recently published 50-State Analysis, Virginia is lacking protections for donor intent.

Denisha Allen (Merriweather) on Our American Stories: “Education Saved My Life” 

Recently, Denisha Allen (Merriweather), founder of Black Minds Matter (BMM), sat down with radio veteran Lee Habeeb for an episode of “Our American Stories,” a syndicated radio program and podcast that highlights “ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things.”

Beyond the Headlines: DAFs, Data and the Power of Philanthropy

Last week, Politico Pro published a short article on the Treasury Department’s proposed new rules for donor-advised funds (DAFs). Unfortunately, the article missed the recent groundbreaking research on DAFs and instead repeated some of the inaccurate claims of DAF critics. The good news is these claims are exceedingly at odds with the data and practices of donors using DAFs for their charitable giving.

People United for Privacy Warns of Threats to Nonprofits in 31 States

In early February, People United for Privacy (PUFP) published a memo forecasting legislative threats to nonprofit advocacy and donor privacy in states across the country in 2024.

Donor Intent Watch: Cash-Strapped University Asking Court to Lift Donor Restrictions on Funds 

This month’s Donor Intent Watch includes a story about a current dispute at Webster University in Missouri, a look at one state featured in our recently released 50-state summary on the legal status of donor intent and excerpts from our Top Ten Tips for Higher Education Donors.

Where DEI Failed, Merit can Succeed

Black History Month (BHM) has been celebrated every February since 1976 to commemorate the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history. BHM offers a moment to assess efforts such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in achieving equality and advancement for Blacks.

Philanthropic Agency: The Downside of Separating Givers from Their Giving

In 2020, responding to both increased community needs resulting from the pandemic and consequent lockdowns and calls for racial equity, many foundations and individual donors willingly suspended their stated missions, usual procedures and customary payout rates.

Roundtable Submits Comment Letter on Proposed Rules for Donor-Advised Funds

With generous Americans increasingly giving back through flexible vehicles like donor-advised funds (DAFs), pressure is building to add new restrictions on these charitable giving accounts.  

New Report on Donor-Advised Funds: Democratizing Giving and Accelerating Impact

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) have emerged as a powerful tool for charitable giving, offering flexibility and a streamlined approach to philanthropy. A new study by the DAF Research Collaborative, the largest of its kind to date, sheds light on the inner workings of DAFs, revealing their immense value for donors and their growing impact on communities in need.

Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation: Keeping the Flame of Liberty Alive

Philanthropy Roundtable recently sat down with Ambassador Andrew Bremberg, president of Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, to discuss his organization’s mission through its many educational resources.

Safeguarding Charity Act: Protecting Nonprofits From Political Overreach

The Roundtable is proud to announce its support for the Safeguarding Charity Act.

The Roundtable is proud to announce its support for the Safeguarding Charity Act.

This important legislation, introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), would protect the independence of tax-exempt organizations and reaffirm that tax-exempt status alone is not government assistance.

Devon Westhill: Lawyers…Do Better

Devon Westhill, a True Diversity partner and the president and general counsel of the Center for Equal Opportunity, wrote an op-ed at RealClearPolicy on how lawyers have developed tunnel vision in the obsessive pursuit of diversity that perpetuates discrimination.

The Center for American Culture and Ideas: Elevating the American Intellectual Experience through the Arts

Philanthropy Roundtable’s Program Manager Kathryn Hougham recently sat down with Daniel Asia, president of The Center for American Culture and Ideas (CACI), to discuss how the Center promotes the American intellectual experience through engagement with the aesthetic, historical, economic and philosophical foundations of American society.

Sunsetting: A Conversation about Donor Intent with the William E. Simon Foundation

Established in 1967 with neither a specific mission nor a staff, the foundation was led for its first 33 years by its founder, William E. Simon, whose career history encompassed banking, private equity and public service.

Doers to Donors: Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg on Why Capitalism Drives Economic Growth

In the most recent episode of Philanthropy Roundtable’s interview series “Doers to Donors,” Roundtable President and CEO Christie Herrera spoke with Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg, founder and chairman of The Orchestra of the Americas Group.