In our politically polarized society, policy advocacy is all too often conflated with political activity. Recently, Republican members of the House Ways and Means Committee asked the nonprofit community for feedback on whether nonprofits are being misused by foreign nationals and others to meddle in U.S. politics.
A 2009 encounter with a teacher dramatically changed the course of Laura and Jeff Sandefer’s lives—and the lives of thousands of students—forever. That year, the Sandefers were considering a move from Montessori to traditional school for their sons. During a meeting with a teacher from a local private school, Jeff Sandefer asked when they should make the transition.
The “housing first” approach to solving homelessness has failed. Innovative nonprofits and generous donors are proving there is a better way to improve lives, and it starts with tackling root causes.
Given the political chaos that has dominated Washington, D.C., these past two weeks, it’s possible you missed the nomination hearing for Marjorie Rollinson, President Biden’s pick for IRS Chief Counsel. The role, which has been vacant since Biden took office, has remarkable power over the creation and enforcement of IRS rules.
As the nation celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Philanthropy Roundtable interviewed Mario H. Lopez, president of Hispanic Leadership Fund. HLF focuses on protecting the American dream for all by steadfastly defending historically proven principles that strengthen and empower families, communities and America as a whole.
Israel is in crisis after the terrorist organization Hamas launched unprecedented and brutal attacks against Israeli civilians, including young children and the elderly, over the weekend. The death toll from the massacre has now surpassed 1,200 fatalities.
The notion of spending much of one’s fortune while living is a concept briskly taking hold in philanthropic circles around the globe. Giving away money fast—to do good right now—is an idea championed by some of the most high-impact, high-net-worth donors of the modern era.
Three federal regulations have recently been introduced in Washington that will have sweeping impacts on employers across the nation, including those in the charitable sector.
Philanthropy Roundtable announced today that its board of directors has unanimously chosen Christie Herrera as the organization’s next president and CEO after conducting a national search. Effective immediately, Herrera will become the fifth executive to lead the Roundtable since it was formally established in 1991.
In response to headlines about foreign actors interfering in U.S. elections, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means last month issued a Request for Information (RFI) inquiring about how foreign nationals might be using nonprofits to skirt election disclosure laws and about the IRS’s oversight role.
Recently, Philanthropy Roundtable Adjunct Senior Fellow Patrice Onwuka 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.”
The Roundtable recently spoke with Bob Eitel, co-founder and president of the Defense of Freedom Institute, and Jim Blew, the Institute’s co-founder. During this conversation, Eitel and Blew discussed why private philanthropy and local solutions can be more effective in improving education than government agencies like the Department of Education.
Embracing diversity doesn’t have to be divisive. But far too often, it is. Many charitable organizations have adopted diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and practices that focus almost exclusively on immutable characteristics – like race and sex – to the exclusion of many other important characteristics that make each person unique and special.
Philanthropy Roundtable is pleased to share this essay by Joe E. Ross, president of Reach University. Ross and his team have worked to provide an innovative model that creates pathways to opportunity for individuals working within educational communities while simultaneously solving one of the largest problems plaguing our nation’s schools today – teacher talent pipelines. Reach University is providing a low-cost solution to the barrier of credentialing for individuals who are best positioned to meet the educational needs of their local communities through a groundbreaking apprenticeship model.
In the October 2023 issue of Planned Giving Today, Philanthropy Roundtable’s Adam Meyerson Distinguished Fellow in Philanthropic Excellence Joanne Florino discusses what happens when the reputations of philanthropists – both living and deceased – become tainted, and the institutions that bear their names subsequently become the subjects of protests and media scrutiny.
Some foundations and individual donors wish to remain anonymous because they prefer the attention stays focused on the work of the nonprofits they support. That’s true of the Colorado-based Anschutz Foundation. In a new Philanthropy Roundtable video, the foundation’s Executive Vice President Ted Harms discusses the importance of the right to give freely to causes and communities – and why preserving donor privacy is crucial.
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. We are awaiting updates on lawsuits involving Middlebury College and the former Hastings College of the Law, and will continue to inform readers about those topics.
As we’ve discussed here before, the Supreme Court is considering a case with implications for future wealth tax proposals. We know that taxing assets is a net negative for philanthropy and the vibrant charitable sector it supports, so the Roundtable is closely following Moore v. United States.
Philanthropy Roundtable recently sat down with Justin Dent, founding executive director of Outschool.org. Dent and his team are on a mission to ensure that every child, regardless of their economic circumstances, can access an education that allows them to pursue – and be inspired by – their interests. The organization, which is the nonprofit, charitable offshoot of the ed tech company, offers a wide variety of small-group classes and outside-the-box teaching methods. Their work highlights the power of entrepreneurship, linking the nation’s best teachers with students and families most in need of new education options.
In the October edition of Trusts & Estates, which features a special report on charitable giving, Philanthropy Roundtable’s Adam Meyerson Distinguished Fellow in Philanthropic Excellence Joanne Florino and Integer LLC Principal Sara Barba describe why understanding and honoring donor intent is crucial to preserving the American tradition of private giving. They also give examples of donor intent violations that can serve as lessons for philanthropists who wish to leave a lasting legacy through charitable giving.