Reviews

Benda, Gurri, Rufo, and us.

Wondering whether there may be symptoms of groupthink, of heavy-handed treatment of dissent, in philanthropy.

Matt K. Lewis’ new book highlights partisan politicians benefiting greatly—politically and even personally—from a tax-exempt, nonprofit, charitable organization.

The anti-elite tone of Marco Rubio’s new book is evidence that he understands what gave rise to Donald Trump in 2016 and what that ascendant populism portends for future political and policy debates, including the politics surrounding—and potentially, the policy structuring—establishment philanthropy.

Newly out in paperback, Stephen R. Soukup’s straightforward explanation of increasing “wokism” in the country’s for-profit sector necessarily includes the roles of some who are in the nonprofit sector, too.

What non-official sources can tell us about the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.

Part of post-frontier America’s failed “managerial elite.”

Newly out in paperback, Joel Kotkin’s book on the coming “neo-feudalism”—comparing current class conditions to those of the Middle Ages—correctly characterizes the current status and a current role of foundations.

Applying an analytical framework in another, related context.

This review, republished with permission, originally appeared in American Affairs on December 12, 2022.   The 1969 Tax Reform Act that established—and remains—the basic legal structure of American philanthropy was a “Grand Bargain,” according to Brooklyn Law School professors Dana Brakman Reiser and Steve A. Dean in their impressive forthcoming book For-Profit Philanthropy: Elite Power… Continue reading Big Philanthropy and the benefits—and limits—of the bygone “Grand Bargain”

Adam Rutherford’s new book about eugenics reminds us again of those progressive foundations that supported it—and that it’s long past time for a full and fair accounting of them for what they funded and fomented, and why.

This article originally appeared on the IUPUI Lilly Family School of Philanthropy blog on October 31, 2022.   In the second of the two 1889 essays known as “The Gospel of Wealth,” Andrew Carnegie tries to identify the “best uses” for philanthropic giving. At the top of his list, “standing apart by itself,” is founding a… Continue reading Did philanthropy kill Jane Stanford?

A work to read in “the Wilderness.”

The short of it: in his new book’s ambitious thinking about the “full scale of human history,” William MacAskill undervalues the past—by definition, but more than needed—and elides in practice what that thinking could perhaps offer those of a different ideological worldview.

The popular EconTalk podcast host Russ Roberts’ new book offers a helpful insight to any grantmakers willing to receive it—and self-aware enough to risk considering themselves as essentially engaged in art, not science.

A mid-year collection of interesting and insightful passages.

Don’t miss influential author, in new book, floating idea “in order to avoid an excessive concentration of power within a small number of entities and to enable less wealthy entities to develop.”

Claire Dunning’s impressive new history on government support of nonprofits in Boston offers helpful insights for private philanthropy.

And in philanthropy?

Historian Gary Gerstle’s new book on America in what he considers the bygone free-market era includes a role for philanthropy in its narrative—well, at least in its purportedly “Powell-ian” rise, anyway.

“Using tax privileges, matching grants, special restrictions, and unique legal devices, the modern state gives the practice of philanthropy its particular strength and texture,” according to Theodore M. Lechterman. “Which if any of these regulatory strategies can be justified requires careful analysis and evaluation.”

A year-end collection of interesting and insightful passages.

From the Carnegie Corporation’s promotion of eugenics to—as Maribel Morey’s new book provocatively argues—its furthering of white supremacy, establishment philanthropy in America has much to answer for, and to resolve. It will have to do so in the coming years, in what will likely be an uncharitable cultural and political context. In all of American establishment philanthropy’s… Continue reading Philanthropy’s original sin

As Tim Stanley recalls it in his new book, Tevye says “You may ask, how did this tradition get started. I’ll tell you. I don’t know.” And another, unsettling question: without tradition, will there be anything left?

Philanthropy and data, oxytocin and neurological unity, and love and charity in Arthur C. Brooks’ new book on the culture of contempt.

“[T]oday’s politics of the street,” according to political historian Donald T. Critchlow, “resembles that of the late Roman Republic, when oligarchs, such as Caesar, Sulla, and Catiline, organized mobs to serve their factional interests.”

A work to read in “the Wilderness.”

Philanthropic insights from Bloomberg Businessweek reporter Max Chafkin’s new biography of PayPal co-founder, Silicon Valley venture capitalist, and intellectual and political provocateur Peter Thiel.

The cutting critique of and stance against corporate America’s adoption of an extreme social-justice agenda in Vivek Ramaswamy’s new book could certainly, and perhaps should, be considered in the context of politicized charitable nonprofitdom, too.

More receptivity to and respect for faith at the top of establishment grantmaking in the country might be beneficial, too.

Looking back at a previous, successful attempt to reform the nonprofit sector, with the lawyer and author who literally wrote the book on it.

And now.

The economist and Social Gospel movement leader thought and taught that some philanthropy “could and must come from government coercion,” as Ronald J. Pestritto reminds us in his new book on the rise and legacy of progressivism.

Mostly in one of them, increasingly in another. But maybe it’s only “the terms of accreditation that have changed.” That would be bad.

A mid-year collection of interesting and insightful passages.

New book about successful gay-marriage movement highlights role of some grantmakers who supported it—prominently including the Haas Fund and Tim Gill—and suggesting some funding lessons to be drawn, including by others and in any context.

Elisabeth S. Clemens’ book—including its description of the March of Dimes, what would now be properly considered a “working charity,” in the polio crusade—impressively details questions about roles of, and relationship between, public and private sectors in meeting social challenges through American history.

The Mother Jones senior editor talks to Michael E. Hartmann about the need for more and better thinking about the proper role of philanthropy in a democracy and people’s fear about being on the wrong side of America’s economic divide.

The Mother Jones senior editor talks to Michael E. Hartmann about the state of journalism, including about philanthropy, and his new book on the super-rich, including their problems.

Chuck Collins’ new book about the “Wealth Defense Industry” references its philanthropic component’s managerial elite, about which there should be more honest truth-telling and analysis.

The elite arts-and-culture establishment, its echelons, and everyone else.

And what can be done about it, including by philanthropy.

Michael Mechanic’s forthcoming book well-describes “how the super-rich really live,” then promotes a progressive social-justice agenda that would supposedly prevent wealth from “harming us all.”

John Tuso’s new book recalls his advice succinctly: simply support and supervise management. CEOs shouldn’t surrender, and boards shouldn’t usurp, power. In the nonprofit context particularly, directors should also be willing to do more when asked.

Stephen R. Soukup’s straightforward explanation of increasing, and increasingly destructive, “wokism” in the country’s for-profit sector necessarily includes the role of some who are also in, and/or are acting through, the nonprofit sector.

Lance Morrow’s new book provides an historically and religiously informed contextual overview for considering how money should be organized to do good.

Which may be permanent, and thus still relevant—including in the higher-education context.

For Democrats.

From Charles Koch and Robert L. Woodson, Sr., decades’ worth of accumulated wisdom, but differing perspectives.

An important charitable lesson from the classic Christmas film.

Several could perhaps play Robert M. Hutchins’ role today. Any potential B. Carroll Reeces?

“Farewell book” by E. D. Hirsch, Jr., underscores role of history and civics education in developing shared knowledge necessary to be a nation. Philanthropy can and should help.

In philanthropy, for example, personal giving almost doubled from 1929 to 1964, then turned back downward from 1964 to 1996, according to new book by Robert D. Putnam with Shaylyn Romney Garrett. What to do about all this? Where to turn?

More of Irving Kristol’s kind of counter-establishment insurgence, as described in Michael J. Brown’s new book, might now be needed again—including in philanthropy.

Collection of essays from Manhattan Institute senior fellow, once a man of the left, lays out a century’s worth of instances in which elite experts—and, in at least one case, philanthropy—have failed the citizenry.

Into an existing “philanthropic ecosystem” about which they should be wary.

Gerald F. Seib’s new book skillfully overviews what’s happened to conservatism since 1980 and helpfully frames its forthcoming challenges and opportunities.

Relearn the art of skepticism, and improve grantmaking.

But can giving be so conspicuous that it’s as bad as extravagant consumption?

His caution about “pitfalls and paradoxes” in philanthropy seems quite familiar.

Elisabeth S. Clemens impressively details questions about proper roles of, and relationship between, public and private sectors in meeting social challenges through American history.

Joel Kotkin’s new book on the coming “neo-feudalism”—comparing current class conditions to those of the Middle Ages—correctly characterizes the current status and a current role of foundations.

Wondering whether there may be symptoms of groupthink, of heavy-handed treatment of dissent, in philanthropy.

Center for Effective Philanthropy report on policy-oriented foundations underscores importance of tightening thinking behind strategies and improving formulation and development of tactics—together, and for longer than usually first expected.

Research on effectiveness of faith-based groups’ social services overviewed in contribution to volume’s third edition.

Contributions to volume’s third edition recognize role of right-wing grantmakers.

Funding, fear of tarring, and consequences of insularity.

The two different types of giving are substitutive, researchers find. If so, there would be implications worth exploration.

Organized standardization and independent wildcatting can show up in grantmaking, too.

Progressive philanthropy will be frustrated in its ultimate aim to achieve a fully just and equal society, because it is working against the grain of our order, in pursuit of an abstract, utopian goal.

Profiles in Howard Husock’s new book tell a larger story, engagingly tracing an unfortunate development: the displacement of civil society by the state.

An important charitable lesson from the classic Christmas film.

Examining whether “thoughts and prayers” substitute for or complement material help.

By suggesting that our vast network of social services isn’t adequate to the task of meeting human needs, the everyday charitable acts of Americans “threaten” to carve out islands of independent civic initiative, free from the heavy-handed guidance and arrogant expertise of philanthropic reformers.

George Soros’ new book notes “pitfalls and paradoxes” of philanthropy in ways that seem quite familiar.

As establishment philanthropy defends its position in American society, it would do well to tend to more than just one flank.

A role reversal, and its own grand renewal.

And another option for grantmakers to at least consider.

In wake of USC Center on Philanthropy & Public Policy’s must-read report, third of three-part series offers different take on applying theory, facing reality, and learning lessons for future giving.

In wake of USC Center on Philanthropy & Public Policy’s must-read report, second of three-part series tracks depressingly increasing evidence of failure.

In wake of USC Center on Philanthropy & Public Policy’s must-read report, first of three-part series overviews initial ambitions and aspirations of effort led by city’s funders to deal with “wicked problem.”

From the Old Testament.

We’re in the midst one of the most-drastic changes in the flow of information in history. Policy-oriented funders need to change their strategies accordingly.

Overcoming temptations and the tragic with tough-mindedness and long-termism.

Too tidy and convenient an explanation for today’s conservative policy activism.

Liberally educated generalists with range, rather than narrowly focused specialists with technical expertise and sometimes-overbearing confidence.

And for conservative philanthropy, a small measure of comfort.

More are recognizing America’s “identity crisis” as urgent.

In Milwaukee, it didn’t start with any grantmaker. The indispensable groundwork was laid by parents concerned about the education of their children.

Remembering, and trying to learn from, a good philanthropic role played more than two decades ago.

Civil society should not be seen by experts, or funders, merely as a tool to solve social problems.

A decade-old report still has much to teach us.

A documentary that details the fight over the stewardship of a $25-billion art collection raises enduring questions of donor intent.