Philanthropy Roundtable announced nominations are open for its annual Simon-DeVos Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. This Prize honors a living philanthropist who has shown exemplary leadership through charitable giving with a $200,000 award to the winner’s charitable organization of choice.
Preserving the original intention of donors is crucial for establishing and upholding trust between donors and charitable organizations. This trust is essential for fostering the generous contributions that sustain a vibrant philanthropic sector and the private charities that help those in need.
After hearing oral arguments earlier this month in two related cases about commercial fishing regulations, the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to tackle a landmark case that could impact every American: the fate of a precedent called Chevron deference.
Ahead of National School Choice Week, the Roundtable spoke with Kathleen O’Toole, assistant provost for K-12 education at Hillsdale College, about the institution’s K-12 Education Office. The office works with K-12 schools, parents and teachers to found and support a nationwide network of classical schools and revive the American tradition of K-12 education.
As higher education donors continue to make public their dissatisfaction with various institutions’ responses to the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7 and other campus issues, we are beginning to see critics questioning “donor power” in general and – in some cases – the concept of donor intent.
In an op-ed recently published in Washington Examiner, “When DEI Threatens the Arts, Embracing Merit is the Way Forward,” Philanthropy Roundtable Program Manager Kathryn Hougham explains how diversity quotas have shifted the focus of some orchestras from creating beautiful music to making hiring decisions based on demographics.
In a Letter to the Editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy entitled “Donor Privacy Is Essential. Stop Asking Lawmakers to Force Disclosure,” Philanthropy Roundtable’s Director of Policy Research Jack Salmon responds to recent proposals by Giving Review Senior Fellow Craig Kennedy that would force nonprofits to name their donors.
Kim Dennis joined Philanthropy Roundtable’s board of directors in January, continuing a longstanding relationship with the organization that began more than three decades ago. Dennis, president and CEO of the Searle Freedom Trust, served as the Roundtable’s first executive director from 1991-1996.
Philanthropy Roundtable recently sat down with Leah Kral, author of “Innovation for Social Change: How Wildly Successful Nonprofits Inspire and Deliver Results,” where Kral delivers a blueprint for nonprofit leaders on how to innovate and lead their organizations into the future.
In an op-ed recently published in Newsmax entitled, “Envisioning a Promised Land of Academic Freedom on MLK Day,” Philanthropy Roundtable Adjunct Senior Fellow Patrice Onwuka says higher education institutions have failed Dr. Martin Luther King’s hope for America by declining to embrace free speech and diversity of thought on campus.
Philanthropy Roundtable recently interviewed Chris Ullman, former communications director at global investment firm The Carlyle Group, about his new book, “Four Billionaires and a Parking Attendant: Success Strategies of the Wealthy, Powerful, and Just Plain Wise.”
Dr. Carol Swain, born into poverty in rural southwest Virginia, dropped out of high school but went on to earn five university degrees. Swain was tenured at Princeton University and then became a full professor at Vanderbilt University. She went from a high school dropout and teenage mother to a highly accomplished university professor and intellectual.
On January 2, 2024, Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), a national women’s organization devoted to advancing freedom, opportunity and well-being, profiled Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Christie Herrera. This piece highlighted Herrera’s emphasis on protecting philanthropic freedom and donor privacy, and her commitment to staying true to the Roundtable’s mission. The Roundtable is honored that IWF has recognized Herrera as one of its “Champion Women.”
As we consider issues shaping philanthropy in 2024, race relations will undoubtedly be a part of the conversation. Given that the Israel-Hamas conflict has exposed antisemitism in the current social justice movement in America, questions remain about whether racial harmony and equal treatment of all people is truly the goal of these groups.
“Five and a half years ago, this very day, I was homeless on the streets of San Francisco, struggling with heroin and fentanyl addiction. So, while as bad as that is, I’m also proof, living proof, that we do recover, that we can come all the way back,” said Tom Wolf, director of West Coast Initiatives for the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, during his Big Idea talk at Philanthropy Roundtable’s Annual Meeting.
Karith Foster is a diversity trainer, comedian and founder of INVERSITY Solutions. She has traveled all over the globe delivering her positive alternative to the polarizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) debate occurring within corporations, institutions of higher education and nonprofits.
In 2023, the charitable sector faced multiple threats to charitable giving. While lawmakers in some states took action to protect philanthropic freedom, we continued to see legislation that threatens the nonprofit community. These threats arose not only from the legislature, but from executive branch officials as well.
As lawmakers investigate the rare instances of foreign interference in U.S. elections through nonprofits, Philanthropy Roundtable encourages them to protect charitable giving by upholding the constitutional right to donor privacy.
Earlier this year, following the passage of the Donor Intent Protection Act in Kansas, Philanthropy Roundtable launched a monthly series on donor intent controversies around the country to better inform those who care about this important topic.
As part of Philanthropy Roundtable’s True Diversity initiative, President and General Counsel for the Center for Equal Opportunity Devon Westhill recently 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.”