Philanthropy Roundtable
Encyclopedia
The Philanthropy Roundtable is a private, non-partisan, 501(c)(3) organization. Its stated mission is "to foster excellence in philanthropy
, to protect philanthropic freedom, to assist donors in achieving their philanthropic intent, and to help donors advance liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility in America and abroad."
assumed administrative leadership of the organization in the newly defined role of president the following year when the organization moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C. Walters remained in that position until resigning in October 2001 in order to accept an appointment by George W. Bush
to the cabinet
-level position of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
.
The current president of the Roundtable, Adam Meyerson, has held that position since Walters's departure in 2001. Before Meyerson's move to The Philanthropy Roundtable, he was the Heritage Foundation
's vice president for educational affairs. Meyerson was previously an editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal and, in the late 1970s, managing editor of American Spectator.
In 1991, The Philanthropy Roundtable became an independent entity, with its own board of directors and staff, headquartered in Indianapolis
, Indiana
.
, national security
, and higher education
.
The Roundtable also publishes a quarterly magazine, Philanthropy, that includes coverage of past and ongoing philanthropic efforts and strategies, as well as news stories and commentary relevant to readers who are active in the philanthropic sector.
In a letter published in The Hill
, ACR co-founders Dan Peters and Heather Higgins responded to discussion of legislative regulatory proposals, saying that, "ACR believes that every dollar of tax increases on foundations is to the federal government rather than a dollar to charities, and the ACR is troubled by that notion.... We cannot adopt a one-size-fits-all solution that disadvantages smaller organizations. We must do everything possible to encourage philanthropy and not create barriers to charitable giving."
Foundation named the Roundtable the administrator of the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. Recipients of the prize since the Roundtable's administration of it include Charles G. Koch
, Roger Hertog
, Philip and Nancy Anschutz, S. Truett Cathy
, and Frank Hanna III
.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, to protect philanthropic freedom, to assist donors in achieving their philanthropic intent, and to help donors advance liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility in America and abroad."
Leadership
Kimberly Dennis was the organization's first executive director. She served as executive director from 1991 through 1996. John P. WaltersJohn P. Walters
John P. Walters is the former Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy . He held that position from December 7, 2001 to January 20, 2009. As the nation's "Drug Czar," Mr...
assumed administrative leadership of the organization in the newly defined role of president the following year when the organization moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C. Walters remained in that position until resigning in October 2001 in order to accept an appointment by George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to the cabinet
United States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
-level position of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Office of National Drug Control Policy
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy , a former cabinet level component of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, was established in 1989 by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988...
.
The current president of the Roundtable, Adam Meyerson, has held that position since Walters's departure in 2001. Before Meyerson's move to The Philanthropy Roundtable, he was the Heritage Foundation
Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative American think tank based in Washington, D.C. Heritage's stated mission is to "formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong...
's vice president for educational affairs. Meyerson was previously an editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal and, in the late 1970s, managing editor of American Spectator.
History
The Roundtable was founded in 1987 as a project of the Institute For Educational Affairs. For four years the program, known then as the Philanthropic Roundtable, held occasional meetings where representatives of foundations and charities could converse with scholars and journalists about the way professional philanthropy was conducted in the U.S. It also published a bimonthly newsletter, "Philanthropy"; offered member organizations a talent bank for hiring young staffers from its list of recent college graduates (almost all of whom had worked at conservative college newspapers partially funded by IEA); and conducted a "project development service" that assisted members "in examining their own programs ... to foster innovative programming." Membership was free "to interested grantmakers," and 140 foundations, charities and nonprofits joined in the Roundtable's first year.In 1991, The Philanthropy Roundtable became an independent entity, with its own board of directors and staff, headquartered in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Projects
Since 2003, The Philanthropy Roundtable has organized issue-specific program areas designed to "help philanthropists connect with like-minded peers in their field of interest to share ideas, leverage resources, and strategically collaborate to create significant change. Each group holds separate regional meetings and offers customized resources, including publications and seminars." As of 2011, the Roundtable offers programs in K-12 education and economic opportunity, although in the past it has held programs on conservationConservation
Conservation may refer to:* Conservation movement, to protect animals, fungi, plants and their habitats** Conservation biology, the science of the protection and management of biodiversity...
, national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
, and higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
Publications
The Philanthropy Roundtable has published a series of guidebooks offering suggested strategies for many philanthropic niches. Such books published by the organization include How Public Is Private Philanthropy? Separating Myth from Reality, Investing in Charter Schools: A Guide for Donors, American Philanthropic Diversity: What It Means, Why It Matters, Achieving Teacher and Principal Excellence: A Guidebook for Donors, Soaring High: New Strategies for Environmental Giving, Reviving Marriage in America: Strategies for Donors, and Helping People to Help Themselves, all of which are available in electronic and print format.The Roundtable also publishes a quarterly magazine, Philanthropy, that includes coverage of past and ongoing philanthropic efforts and strategies, as well as news stories and commentary relevant to readers who are active in the philanthropic sector.
Alliance For Charitable Reform
In January 2005, The Philanthropy Roundtable created the Alliance For Charitable Reform (ACR) in response to pending legislation that would have created new statutory regulations and restrictions on the non-profit sector. The ACR website describes its formation "as an emergency self-defense initiative to respond to legislative proposals on Capitol Hill, some of which could adversely affect private foundations and the charities they support." The Alliance opposes legislation that would create accreditation requirements for grant-making foundations, establish a five-year IRS review of tax-exempt status, or restrict the ability of donors to establish family foundations.In a letter published in The Hill
The Hill (newspaper)
The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
, ACR co-founders Dan Peters and Heather Higgins responded to discussion of legislative regulatory proposals, saying that, "ACR believes that every dollar of tax increases on foundations is to the federal government rather than a dollar to charities, and the ACR is troubled by that notion.... We cannot adopt a one-size-fits-all solution that disadvantages smaller organizations. We must do everything possible to encourage philanthropy and not create barriers to charitable giving."
William E. Simon Prize
Starting in 2007, the William E. SimonWilliam E. Simon
William Edward Simon was a businessman, a Secretary of Treasury of the U.S. for three years, and a philanthropist. He became the 63rd Secretary of the Treasury on May 8, 1974, during the Nixon administration. He was reappointed by President Ford and served until 1977. Outside of government, he was...
Foundation named the Roundtable the administrator of the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. Recipients of the prize since the Roundtable's administration of it include Charles G. Koch
Charles G. Koch
Charles de Ganahl Koch is co-owner, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Koch Industries Inc., the second-largest privately held company by revenue in the United States according to a 2010 Forbes survey...
, Roger Hertog
Roger Hertog
Roger Hertog is an American businessman, financier and conservative philanthropist. Born and raised in the Bronx borough of New York City, New York, Hertog pursued a career in business....
, Philip and Nancy Anschutz, S. Truett Cathy
S. Truett Cathy
Samuel Truett Cathy is the founder of Chick-fil-A, a quick service restaurant chain based in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, USA.-Early life:...
, and Frank Hanna III
Frank Hanna III
Frank J. Hanna III is an American entrepreneur and merchant banker who has been described as "one of the leading Catholic philanthropists in the USA."-Education and career:...
.
Board of directors
- Michael W. Grebe, Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Chairman
- James Piereson, William E. Simon FoundationWilliam E. SimonWilliam Edward Simon was a businessman, a Secretary of Treasury of the U.S. for three years, and a philanthropist. He became the 63rd Secretary of the Treasury on May 8, 1974, during the Nixon administration. He was reappointed by President Ford and served until 1977. Outside of government, he was...
, Vice Chairman - John Tyler, Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationEwing Marion Kauffman FoundationThe Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a non-profit foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. It has an asset base of $2 billion...
, Secretary - Donn Weinberg, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg FoundationHarry and Jeanette Weinberg FoundationThe Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is a non-profit philanthropist organization founded by businessman Harry Weinberg and his wife Jeanette Weinberg .-Life:...
, Treasurer - Dan Peters, Ruth and Lovett Peters Foundation
- Jeff Sandefer, Acton School of BusinessActon School of BusinessThe Acton School of Business is a private, one-year MBA in Entrepreneurship program in Austin, Texas, taught by successful, practicing entrepreneurs. Offering only a full-time program, the school is based on experiential learning. Students analyze over 300 business case studies and participate in...
- Ana Thompson, Charles and Helen Schwab FoundationCharles R. SchwabCharles R. "Chuck" Schwab is the founder and chairman of the Charles Schwab Corporation.-Early life:Schwab was born in Sacramento, California. Despite having the same name, he is not related to Charles M. Schwab, the American steel magnate of the first half of the Twentieth Century...