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Big Philanthropy to the Rescue? Think Again.
Foundation: Carnegie Corporation of New York, MacArthur Foundation
America's mega-donors are putting their money where their mouth is in an effort to save our democracy, the New York Times reports.
"Big Philanthropy is casting itself in the role of superhero," writes Rob Reich in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
"Even those typically allergic to affix capes to the shoulders of megadonors, there is a new understanding of the importance of information in the management of community, in the management of democracy in America."
In fact, some $5.7 billion has been donated since 2011, the Center for High Impact Philanthropy reports, with grants going to programs that "often depict foundations as stepping up to forestall a doomsday."
The Carnegie Corporation, for example, warned of a "fragility of our democracy" just a few years ago, and the MacArthur Foundation has pledged to combat polarization.
But there's a strong temptation to dismiss the work of Big Philanthropy as partisan and politically liberal.
"Their work, however, is more often cast in the language of strengthening citizenship, free markets, and America's founding principles rather than democracy itself," Reich writes.
In fact, many of the largest conservative foundations in Americathe Charles Koch, Searle, and Bradley foundationsbelieve they have a special role to play in architecting the restoration of
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