Philanthropy Roundtable

Philanthropy Roundtable
source
Name	Philanthropy Roundtable
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Location	United States
Region served	North America
Key people	Adam Meyerson, Joanne Florino

Philanthropy Roundtable is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that aims to promote and support philanthropy in the United States. The organization was founded in 1987 by Richard Larry, with the goal of encouraging and facilitating charitable giving among high net worth individuals and family foundations, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation. The Philanthropy Roundtable has been associated with prominent philanthropists, including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, who have been involved with various charitable initiatives, such as the Giving Pledge and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The organization has also worked with other notable philanthropic groups, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

● History

The Philanthropy Roundtable was established in 1987 with the support of The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, two prominent think tanks in Washington, D.C.. The organization's early years were marked by a focus on promoting free market principles and limited government intervention in philanthropy, as advocated by Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek. The Philanthropy Roundtable has also been influenced by the work of Nobel Prize winners, such as James Buchanan and Gary Becker, who have written extensively on the topics of economics and public policy. Over the years, the organization has been led by several prominent figures, including Adam Meyerson, who has served as the president of the Philanthropy Roundtable since 2001 and has worked closely with other notable leaders, such as Joanne Florino and Heather Higgins.

● Mission and Activities

The Philanthropy Roundtable's mission is to promote and support philanthropy in the United States by providing resources and guidance to donors and non-profit organizations, such as the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. The organization's activities include hosting conferences and workshops, such as the Annual Meeting and the Philanthropy Summit, which have featured speakers like Newt Gingrich and Grover Norquist. The Philanthropy Roundtable also publishes a range of materials, including the Philanthropy magazine, which has featured articles by prominent writers, such as William F. Buckley Jr. and George Will. The organization has also partnered with other groups, including the Cato Institute and the Manhattan Institute, to promote philanthropy and free market principles, as advocated by Ayn Rand and Thomas Sowell.

● Membership and Governance

The Philanthropy Roundtable has a diverse membership base, which includes high net worth individuals, family foundations, and corporate foundations, such as the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Walmart Foundation. The organization is governed by a board of directors, which includes prominent philanthropists and business leaders, such as T. Boone Pickens and Richard DeVos. The Philanthropy Roundtable also has a range of advisory boards and committees, which provide guidance and support on specific issues, such as education reform and healthcare policy, as advocated by Michelle Rhee and Newt Gingrich. The organization has also worked with other notable groups, including the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, to promote philanthropy and public policy initiatives.

● Programs and Initiatives

The Philanthropy Roundtable has launched a range of programs and initiatives over the years, including the Alliance for Charitable Reform and the Center for Excellence in Education, which have been supported by prominent philanthropists, such as Eli Broad and Michael Bloomberg. The organization has also partnered with other groups, including the National Philanthropic Trust and the DonorsTrust, to promote donor-advised funds and other philanthropic vehicles, as advocated by Dan Pallotta and Seth Godin. The Philanthropy Roundtable has also been involved in various policy initiatives, including the Charitable Giving Coalition and the Nonprofit Coalition, which have worked to promote tax reform and other public policy initiatives, as advocated by Grover Norquist and Arthur Laffer.

● Criticisms and Controversies

The Philanthropy Roundtable has faced criticism and controversy over the years, particularly with regard to its political ideology and lobbying activities, as reported by The New York Times and The Washington Post. Some critics, including Ralph Nader and Barbara Ehrenreich, have accused the organization of promoting a conservative agenda and undermining progressive values, as advocated by Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein. The Philanthropy Roundtable has also been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability, as reported by ProPublica and The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Despite these criticisms, the organization remains a prominent voice in the philanthropic community, with a strong network of donors and non-profit organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.

● Notable Members and Partnerships

The Philanthropy Roundtable has a range of notable members and partners, including prominent philanthropists, family foundations, and corporate foundations, such as the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The organization has also partnered with other groups, including the Council on Foundations and the Independent Sector, to promote philanthropy and non-profit leadership, as advocated by Leslie Lenkowsky and Paul Light. The Philanthropy Roundtable has also worked with prominent think tanks and research institutions, including the Hoover Institution and the American Enterprise Institute, to promote public policy initiatives and philanthropic research, as conducted by Stanford University and Harvard University. The organization's notable members and partners also include celebrities and influencers, such as Oprah Winfrey and Bono, who have been involved in various philanthropic initiatives, including the ONE Campaign and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.