conservative

Actually to do democracy would demand, as she proposes, that philanthropy “better understand the American public’s full range of perspectives and what is fueling their dissatisfaction with how the system is working.”

It’s only with the recovery of the principles of the American constitutional order—a genuinely unique contribution of conservative philanthropy—that conservatism achieved the degree of theoretical coherence, patriotic allegiance, and fidelity to human nature essential for political success.

If proponents of participatory philanthropy are looking to attract receptive conservatives to their cause, it may be impossible if participatoriness comes to be—or even to seem—just another mechanism to rationalize tax-incentivized philanthropy in furtherance of one particular ideological or partisan political end. If conservative philanthropy is honestly and self-critically looking to exemplify anti-elitism in and improve its grantmaking, however, it would more aggressively explore options to humbly check what might be its own elitism and increase participatoriness in that grantmaking.

Just one barrier stands in the way of a payout increase: Conservatives’ fear that an increase in foundation giving would largely fund election-adjacent projects and groups promoting progressive causes, instead of just funding programs that provide services to communities in need.

The think-tank senior fellow, historian, and teacher talks to Michael E. Hartmann about what conservatives and conservative philanthropy should consider doing in these (counter-)revolutionary times.

And the damage likely to be done if it takes his advice to deepen involvement in partisan politics.

The think-tank fellow and higher-education researcher talks to Michael E. Hartmann about the necessary scrutiny of and unfortunate lack of transparency in much philanthropically supported programs and projects in higher education, along with what he thinks conservative grantmakers can and should consider doing in the area.

The think-tank fellow and higher-education researcher talks to Michael E. Hartmann about the Mellon Foundation’s and other grantmakers’ substantial support of the “scholar-activist pipeline” and how it tilts colleges and universities to the left.

In large part because of him—his warmth, his wit, his wisdom—a great group that got along and, we think, did some good.

Briefly overviewing some potential grantmaking options.