“In the United States, as soon as several inhabitants have taken an opinion or an idea they wish to promote in society, they seek each other out and unite together once they have made contact. From that moment, they are no longer isolated but have become a power seen from afar whose activities serve as an example and whose words are heeded.”  –  Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America Volunteerism and philanthropy are tightly interconnected – and increasingly so.  According to a recent Fidelity Charitable report “The Role of Volunteering in Philanthropy”, 61% of charitable ..read more

Philanthropy Roundtable’s Free to Give campaign elevates the voices of everyday Americans who have dedicated their careers to supporting those in need. Their work is made possible by the freedom of all Americans to give to the causes and communities they care about most. Philanthropy Roundtable recently sat down with Lawrence (Larry) Spiwak, president of the Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal and Economic Public Policy Studies (PC) and Neil Chilson, head of AI policy at the Abundance Institute and formerly a senior research fellow at Stand Together, a large philanthropic community, w ..read more

With one in five Americans experiencing mental illness each year, there is a significant opportunity for philanthropic leadership to help address the needs of these vulnerable individuals and provide support for their families. Despite a variety of approaches to funding mental health interventions from a vast array of donors, one funding area receiving increased attention and scrutiny, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic, is youth mental health. With books such as “Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren’t Growing Up” by Abigail Shrier and “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of C ..read more

In light of ongoing criticisms of donor-advised funds (DAFs) and their growing popularity as a flexible giving vehicle, Philanthropy Roundtable interviewed one of the authors of a new research report, “The 2024 National Study on Donor-Advised Funds.” The report offers valuable insights into why these criticisms are unfounded. Equally important, the report demonstrates the myriad ways DAFs are used by donors to strategically support charitable causes, democratize giving and improve countless lives.  The authors gathered and analyzed a large dataset covering nine years of activity from more ..read more

In an op-ed published by Philanthropy Daily, Philanthropy Roundtable Director of Policy Research Jack Salmon responds to President Biden’s proposed 2025 budget and its restrictions on donor-advised funds (DAFs). In opposition to Biden’s proposals, Salmon explains how DAFs allow foundations to pursue their charitable missions effectively and provide the ability to innovate and respond quickly in times of crisis. Salmon also says excessive regulation would negatively impact charitable giving and communities in need. Below are excerpts from the article “Biden’s Proposed Budget Vilifies Wealth an ..read more

In late February, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) published the key findings of its annual Voluntary Support of Education survey. These findings are based on fundraising data for the 2022-23 academic fiscal year (FY), typically July 1 through June 30.  The top line news is charitable giving to higher education during that period totaled $58 billion, which is $1.5 billion less than the amount received the previous year. The $59.5 billion contributed in FY 2021-22 was the highest amount ever contributed. The drop in 2022-23 represents a decline of 2.5% (5% if ad ..read more

As detailed in a new report from the Independent Women’s Forum, “Working for Women 3.0: A Modern Agenda to Help Women Strive and Thrive,” policies abound that expand opportunities for women by encouraging the creation of a more dynamic, innovative and flexible working world. While these policies are heading in the right direction, there continue to be barriers to women’s advancement like outdated degree requirements, underemployment, unnecessary occupational licenses and gender quotas that do more harm than good. Women’s History Month gives us the opportunity to examine the barriers that co ..read more

In light of ongoing criticisms of donor-advised funds and their growing popularity as a flexible giving vehicle, Philanthropy Roundtable interviewed one of the authors of a new research report, “The 2024 National Study on Donor Advised Funds.” The report offers valuable insights into why these criticisms are unfounded. Equally important, the report demonstrates the myriad ways DAFs are used by donors to strategically support charitable causes, democratize giving and improve countless lives.   The authors gathered and analyzed a large dataset covering nine years of activity from more ..read more

In 2022, Arizona voters passed the so-called “Voters’ Right to Know Act,” which compels nonprofits engaged in public policy issues to not only disclose their donors, but their donors’ donors. Philanthropy Roundtable and our coalition partners have strongly opposed Arizona’s new law and what it might foreshadow for donor privacy.   To be clear, Arizona’s law doesn’t simply impact individual donors and organizations that engage in public policy discussions. It threatens all nonprofits—even indirect involvement can trigger these new disclosure requirements. For example, if nonprofit A ..read more

Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Christie Herrera recently joined an episode of Giving Ventures, a DonorsTrust podcast designed to help charitable givers discover new opportunities.   On the podcast, Herrera talks with Lawson Bader, president and CEO of DonorsTrust, and Peter Lipsett, vice president of DonorsTrust, about important issues facing philanthropy, including threats to donor privacy, foundation sunsetting, controversies surrounding giving to higher education and the advantage of different giving vehicles like donor-advised funds (DAFs). In closing, Herrera encoura ..read more