civil society

Foundation Watch
Eight Things About Big Philanthropy: Getting Bigger
The populist reaction against Big Philanthropy occurs within a broader, including historical, context. Philanthropy overall has grown significantly in recent decades. Big Philanthropy has also become increasingly liberal and progressive,…
by Michael E. Hartmann on June 24, 2025

Foundation Watch
Eight Things About Big Philanthropy: More Liberal and Progressive
None of the top 25 private foundations could fairly be characterized as solidly conservative—certainly nowhere close to representing or even reflecting the ascendent populist conservatism that’s given rise to the…
by Michael E. Hartmann on June 24, 2025

Foundation Watch
Eight Things About Big Philanthropy: More Politicized
Donald Trump’s initial political ascendancy in 2016 cannot fairly be considered a product, or even an indirect beneficiary, of conservative philanthropy. Conservative donors of all types, in fact, were caught…
by Michael E. Hartmann on June 24, 2025

Foundation Watch
Eight Things About Big Philanthropy: Renewed Public Scrutiny
The populist backlash against Big Philanthropy—coming from both conservatives and progressives—does not seem to be a fleeting phenomenon. It is borne of deep concerns about power, representation, and the role…
by Michael E. Hartmann on June 24, 2025

Philanthropy
A Conversation with the U.K.’s Jason Reed (Part 1 of 2)
The London-based policy analyst and commentator talks to Michael E. Hartmann about the politicization of charities in the U.K., the role of the Charity Commission and other “quangos” there, and…
by Michael E. Hartmann on June 10, 2025

Philanthropy
A Conversation with the U.K.’s Jason Reed (Part 2 of 2)
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…
by Michael E. Hartmann on June 10, 2025

Organization Trends
NGOs Are Often BGOs—Basically Governmental Organizations
By tradition, American nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are our civil society backbone, where private money provides great things without government interference. Soup kitchens, animal shelters, schools, and churches are some of…
by Ken Braun on May 12, 2025

Book Profile
Participatory Philanthropy in Grantmaking Examines Shift Away from Top-Down Power of Elite Foundations
Participatory Grantmaking in Philanthropy: How Democratizing Decision-Making Shifts Power to Communities, forthcoming in December from Georgetown University Press, features several case studies of and perspectives on what its proponents call…
by Michael E. Hartmann on November 27, 2024

Green Watch
Oakland, California: High Crime, High Energy Prices, and a Lot of Left-Wing Nonprofits
Oakland, California, is home to a disproportionate share of America’s stridently left-wing nonprofits. Twenty-six of the most strident examples have a combined annual revenue of more than $566 million. That…
by Ken Braun on August 13, 2024

Philanthropy
A Conversation With Liberty Lost Author Robert E. Wright (Part 1 of 2)
The American Institute for Economic Research senior research fellow talks with Michael E. Hartmann about his research, why Tocquevillian voluntary association became such a beneficial part of America’s social contract,…
by Michael E. Hartmann on December 6, 2023