Events Detail

DIALOGUES ON CIVIC PHILANTHROPY: The Discussion Series, 2005-2006

 

 

Dialogue 1: Goals and Intentions: What Should Today's Philanthropy Aim to Do?

The inaugural Dialogue was held at the Council on Foundations in Washington, DC, on March 17, 2005, and was attended by twenty-three researchers, program officers, foundation and nonprofit leaders, trustees, donors, and grantees. A complete, edited transcript of the discussion is available online by clicking here (PDF format, 45 pages, 165 KB).

Background Reading: The Dialogues team commissioned four opinion pieces to serve as background for the discussion on March 17.

• “What Can and Should Philanthropy Do in the Future” by Rick Cohen
• “The pH Factor: philanthropic Humility” by Marvin Olasky
• “Foundations and the Founding” by William Schambra
• “Money Talks—But What Do We Want It to Say?” By Karl Stauber
  

For Discussion:
Organized American philanthropy has long been devoted to a variety of ends, including direct alleviation of suffering, promoting social change, advancing social justice, developing and sustaining civic life, and correcting social ills through research into their "root causes" and efforts to counter them with public policy. Although they commonly appeal to serving "the public (or common) good" or promoting "the general welfare," foundations often differ widely on the meaning of their ideals and how best to promote them.

Despite a general historic shift in institutional giving from more specific goals (e.g., ending yellow fever) to broader social goals (e.g., "creating civic society"), the social goods that are being served have become less clear. Some critics, observing the host of agents that claim to be devoted to the same or similar ends, wonder whether philanthropy still has a unique role to play in our polity. Others, more skeptical, wonder whether the so-called "public" good that is allegedly aimed at is anything more than private good writ large. Still others, increasingly cognizant of the wide gap between the public’s perception of philanthropy – i.e., philanthropy as charity – and philanthropy’s own self-understanding, wonder whether there is any room left in philanthropy for charity.

What are the goals of philanthropy as practiced today? How are they related to the goals of governmental programs and public policy, or to the activities of voluntary associations, including religious institutions? What is the relation between philanthropy and charity? Above all, what should today’s philanthropy aim to do?       

 

To learn more about the other events in this series please click below:

Dialogue 2:  Accountability: For what and To Whom Should Philanthropy Be Responsible?

Dialogue 3:  Grants, Grantors, Grantees

Dialogue 4:  Philanthropic Leadership: What Should We Expect from Philanthropic Leadership?

Dialogue 5:  Bequests and Legacies: What Should Guide People Who Leave Their Money?

Dialogue 6:  Effectiveness: How Should Philanthropy Judge Its Success?