higher education

Philanthropy
A Conversation with University of Tennessee Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds (Part 2 of 2)
Reynolds discusses the folly of tax-incentivized support of America’s ruling-class elites, including its philanthropic ones, and what to consider doing about it. On philanthropy more largely, “anytime you get lots…
by Michael E. Hartmann on February 21, 2024

Philanthropy
A Conversation with Economist and Historian Richard Vedder (Part 1 of 2)
In the first part, before addressing endowment taxation in the second, we talk about the academic study of economics overall and he briefly applies a basic, general economic concept or two…
by Michael E. Hartmann on January 11, 2024

Philanthropy
A Conversation with Economist and Historian Richard Vedder (Part 2 of 2)
In the second part, we discuss whether tax-incentivization is a subsidy, the taxation of endowments in higher education, Milton Friedman’s e-mail to him about negative externalities in higher ed, whether…
by Michael E. Hartmann on January 11, 2024

Philanthropy
Politicized, Progressive Big Philanthropy
Steve Miller’s December 12 RealClearInvestigations article, “How Tax-Exempt Nonprofits Skirt U.S. Law to Turn Out the Democrat Base in Elections,” is both jarring and informative and helps frame many important…
by Michael E. Hartmann on January 4, 2024

Podcast
InfluenceWatch Podcast #298: Philanthropy Year in Review
It is the final week of 2023, a time when many will reflect on the year rapidly passing by. Joining me to reflect on the past year in Big Philanthropy…
by Michael Watson, Michael E. Hartmann, Scott Walter on December 29, 2023

Education Reform
Legislation Proposed to Increase Taxes on Large University Endowments
On Thursday morning, U.S. Sen. J. D. Vance introduced the College Endowment Accountability Act on the Senate floor. The Ohio Republican’s legislation would increase the excise tax on endowment net…
by Michael E. Hartmann on December 19, 2023

Podcast
InfluenceWatch Podcast #297: Antisemitism’s Link to Affirmative Action (with Heather Mac Donald)
In the wake of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 and Israel’s military response, America’s higher education institutions have been riven by radical pro-Palestinian demonstrations and a donor…
by Sarah Lee, Michael Watson on December 15, 2023

Philanthropy
Higher Education’s “Donor Revolt”: A Conversation with ACTA’s Michael Poliakoff and Emily Koons Jae (Part 1 of 2)
In the wake of the horrific October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, subsequent on-campus activities in defense of or actually outright promoting Hamas, and notably conspicuous silence from higher-ed…
by Michael E. Hartmann on December 11, 2023

Philanthropy
Higher Education’s “Donor Revolt”: A Conversation with ACTA’s Michael Poliakoff and Emily Koons Jae (Part 2 of 2)
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni’s president and vice president talk to Michael E. Hartmann more about the need for and nature of higher-ed reform in the wake of…
by Michael E. Hartmann on December 11, 2023

Foundation Watch
The William T. Grant Foundation’s Funding of Critical Race Theory
The William T. Grant Foundation is a donor nonprofit that gives between five- and six-figure annual donations to universities and policy groups that in turn fund programs on controversial public…
by CRC Staff on November 30, 2023