Foundation Grants
Community Vital Signs
About Us
The Tenuous Place of Big Philanthropy in America'S Social Contract
Foundation: Gates Foundation, Moore Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Packard Foundation, Ford Foundation, Johnson Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Lilly Endowment, Helmsley Charitable Trust
Sohrab Ahmari's new book, Tyranny, Inc.: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty and What to Do About It, isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of free enterprise.
In fact, the co-founder and editor of Compact magazine says in a press release that the book is "not comprehensive by any means."
But that doesn't mean he's done with his criticism of big, private philanthropy.
In fact, he says in a New York Times op-ed that it's time to start looking at philanthropy in a different way.
"Big philanthropy is not subject to any serious 'countervailing power' from other market participants," Ahmari writes.
"Their power hasn’t been subject to any real democratic counter pressure from policymakers, either, since the time of the 1969 Tax Reform Act."
In fact, big, private philanthropy is "tax-incentivized and has always occupied a nebulous position in the American polity neither fully public nor pristinely private in its legal structure or self-understanding, much less among the citizenry," Ahmari writes.
He argues that big, private philanthropy uses the state's coercive power for its own benefit, and he calls for a more participatory, democratic, and tax-in
Read the Entire Article
Selected Foundation News
A customized collection of news from foundations from around the Web.
Foundation: Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan
The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan has announced the first round of grants from its recently reactivated Urgent Needs Fund.The funding will help provide essentials like food, warmth,...more
The Allegany County Area Foundation has approved more $15,000 in grants to support several organizations and programs.The following organizations received grants: Salvation Army, Powerhouse Youth...more
The Harrison County Community Foundation is a permanent, charitable resource that supports a wide variety of local causes and organizations.The HCCF supports all kinds of civic and charitable...more
Foundation: Oregon Community Foundation
A $10,000 grant has been awarded to the Douglas Education Service District.Douglas ESD will use the grant to purchase iPads and clinical assessment software.The organization says the tools will allow...more
Foundation: Ashland County Community Foundation
Inaugural 'Our Community Salutes' event honors students signing up for military service.Parker talked to a recruiter and learned about the chance to be a nuclear engineer in the Navy.Report for...more
Campbell River's inaugural Spring CommuniTEA Party has sold out just one week after tickets went on sale.Set for May 4 at Stonehouse Teas, a fundraiser will benefit the Campbell River Community...more
Foundation: Community Foundation for South Central New York
Foundation to launch second hygiene fund drive.Community Foundation for South Central New York will launch its second annual Hygiene Fund Drive beginning Tuesday, April 15.The project began last...more
Foundation: Kern Community Foundation
The Westside Recreation and Park District's Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) is a key part of summer enrichment for students in Taft.ELOP is bringing new STEM, art, and entrepreneurship...more
Drew Turner is in his first year on the Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC) YPC empowers high school students from all four local school corporations to be changemakers in their communities.YPC members...more
Foundation: Key Biscayne Community Foundation
Key Biscayne Community Programs announces open call to local visionaries.Key Biscayners are invited to submit event concepts for funding.The Village is accepting "Letters of Interest" for its...more
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
Social Enterprises Create ‘Buy Social’ Campaign
Research finds that a great number of social enterprises, businesses with social or environmental goals which reinvest their profits, are trading more with consumers all year round, not just during the holidays.