The Tenuous Place of Big Philanthropy in America'S Social Contract

credit: Oblate Youth

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

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

It's Fundamental

The University of South Carolina School of Music is celebrating its centennial year.Music history professor and ethnomusicologist Alex Carrico uses her research to study how music can be used to...more

Fletcher Farm School Becomes Create Together

Fletcher Farm School for the Arts & Crafts announces its transformation into Create Together."This isn't just about art classes it's about building a stronger, more connected community," says board...more

Uva Wise Announces Regional Leadership Development Program

UVA Wise introduced LEAD SWVA as a unique program designed to foster individuals who aspire to grow and progress professionally while supporting the communities in which they live and work.The...more

Allied Arts Is on the Move

Allied Arts of Whatcom County is moving to a new space in downtown Bellingham.The new location "represents far more than a physical move," says the organization's president.Allied Arts raises...more

Major Funding Secured For the Australian Festival of Chamber Music's Pathways Program

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) in Townsville/Gurambilbarra has secured a grant of $525,000 over four years to go towards the expansion of its AFCM Pathways Program.The AFCM Executive...more

Can Theater Help Prevent Violence in Schools?

NorCal Arts teaches conflict resolution and social-emotional learning through theater.The organization works with roughly 10,400 students in the Sacramento region."You'll never know if somehow the...more

Crisis, Climate and Conflict Drove Disaster Philanthropy

New Data from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) while it is not record-level funding, it was the third highest amount since the nonprofit started reporting such data in 2014.Overall giving...more

The Bronx Community Foundation Is in Turmoil

The Bronx Community Foundation has raised millions for social causes in the Bronx.But the foundation is facing criticism from community groups and former board members.Concerns over finances,...more

In Sierra Leone, Nonprofits Are on the Frontline Against Mpox

Sierra Leone's success highlights the strength of a coordinated network of NGOs.Many nonprofits in Sierra Leone that partner with the government to prevent a wider outbreak have so far been...more

News in Brief: Blackbaud, Rkd, Moore
Foundation: Share Our Strength

RKD Group in Dallas is the new direct response fundraising agency of record for Feed The Children in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.Moore AudienceFirst Media was selected by No Kid Hungrya campaign of Share...more