progressive

Longtime philanthropy professional, scholar, analyst, and editor recognized as among most-influential figures in American grantmaking.

With Michael E. Hartmann, the economist and policy analyst talks about his recent article “Think Tanks Have Defeated Democracy;” why the U.S. has so many think tanks; how that differs from other democracies; and what philanthropy, its own managerial elite, and the one it funds have done to civil society rightly understood and democracy in America.

The Brandeis University professor talks to Michael E. Hartmann about differences in the two parties’ policy networks, corporate support of both networks, and how to consider improving the research product available to policymakers and the public, including by strengthening parties.

The Brandeis University professor talks to Michael E. Hartmann about how so many think tanks have become partisan political organizations, including the role of their funding in the process.

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.

Without any internal pressure for change from conservatives, philanthropy will remain what it has always been: the wellspring of progressive thought and action.

A survey of some context.

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.

The London-based policy analyst and commentator talks to Michael E. Hartmann about where criticism of politicized charity is coming from in the U.K., why, and what could and should perhaps be done about it.

Today’s polarization between left-wing Democrats and populist conservative Republicans is also a polarization between two radically different understandings of giving.

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

An end-of-year collection of interesting and insightful thinking about grantmaking and giving.

A selection of recent reviews.

Philanthropy is uniquely unsuited for involvement in American politics. Indeed, what it considers its political strengths turn out to be serious liabilities. Nothing demonstrates this better than its role in the 2024 presidential election.

The polymath and Substack writer talks to Michael E. Hartmann about libertarian and progressive views of the roles of government, for-profit business, and nonprofit charity.

The polymath and Substack writer talks to Michael E. Hartmann about his government service, his Substack page, the role nonprofits should and actually do play in America, and generally outlines potential policy reforms related to nonprofits.

Daniel Schlozman’s and Sam Rosenfeld’s new book tells how wealthy givers, on both the left and the right, have played a part in weakening political parties, and thus also politics and policymaking, in America.

Progressivism and donor-advised funds in local charity.

“It’s past time,” Vance said, to end allowing “these deals to escape tax liability.” Whitehouse said we should “get our government out of the business of subsidizing” them.