The Philanthropy Roundtable
Background
The Philanthropy Roundtable describes itself as “America’s leading network of charitable donors working to strengthen our free society, uphold donor intent, and protect the freedom to give” with members including individual philanthropists, families, and private foundations. The Philanthropy Roundtable‘s stated mission is to “foster excellence in philanthropy, to protect philanthropic freedom, to assist donors in achieving their philanthropic intent, and to help donors advance liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility in America and abroad.”1“Who We Are,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/AtDYm
The Philanthropy Roundtable was founded in the 1970s and initially operated under the auspices of the Institute for Educational Affairs (IEA) and headed by Leslie Lenkowsky, who was a research fellow with the American Enterprise Institute. In 1987, he began publishing IEA’s quarterly newsletter Philanthropy and distributing it among grantmakers. In 1991, the Roundtable became its own independent non-profit corporation with headquarters in Indianapolis, for a period, with Kimberly Dennis serving as the first executive director until 1996. Dennis is now president and CEO of Searle Freedom Trust, chairman of the board of DonorsTrust, a former director at the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), and former member of the Philanthropy Roundtable’s board of directors. It is now run by Adam Meyerson, a former executive of the Heritage Foundation and a former managing editor of American Spectator, and it is located in Washington, DC.2“History of The Philanthropy Roundtable,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/kvegv 3“Directors & Staff,” DonorsTrust. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Z5oHw 4“Our Board,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived August 13, 2012. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/1HyAV
In a 2019 article in Environmental Research Letters, researching climate change misinformation in US philanthropy, Yale University’s Dr. Justin Farrell described The Philanthropy Roundtable as “perhaps the leading institution shaping US philanthropy.” He added, “this institution birthed the untraceable and hugely influential donor-directed funds DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund, which some researchers have hypothesized have played a role in climate change contrarianism.”5Justin Farrell. “The growth of climate change misinformation in US philanthropy: evidence from natural language processing” (PDF), Environmental Research Letters. 14 034013 (2019).
According to Media Matters: “The Philanthropy [Roundtable] fights what it considers the increasingly growing public view that foundations should be accountable to the public. The group is opposed to more efforts at transparency, believing that ‘foundations are private organizations that should be free to make their own governance and grantmaking decisions so long as they operate with integrity and use their assets for genuinely charitable purposes.’”6“Philanthropy Roundtable,” Media Matters. Archived May 3, 2012. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/IJFO0
The Philanthropy Roundtable’s listed programs include:
- K-12 Education
- Economic Opportunity
- Veterans
- Civic Education
- Health
- Culture of Freedom (Now “Communio”)
In January 2005, the Philanthropy Roundtable launched the Alliance for Charitable Reform (ACR), a group that has actively opposed legislation that would increase disclosures of philanthropic giving as well as regular reviews of organizations to assess tax-exempt status.7“ABOUT US,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/pwIKU
Dark Money “Illuminates Our Free Society”
Adam Meyerson, the president of the Philanthropy Roundtable since 2001, has argued that “dark money” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In an article posted in Philanthropy, the quarterly magazine of The Philanthropy Roundtable, Meyerson wrote:8Adam Meyerson. “President’s Note: Misconceptions about ‘Dark Money’,” Philanthropy Roundtable, Fall 2013. Archived April 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/M8JWb
“Liberal critics of DonorsTrust, a donor-advised-fund sponsor for ‘organizations that promote liberty,’ have labeled it as a ‘secretive funding network’ and ‘dark-money ATM.’ But the right to privacy enjoyed by contributors to donor-advised funds is no different than the right to privacy that governs the overwhelming majority of charitable giving.
[…]
“So-called ‘dark money’ illuminates our free society.”9Adam Meyerson. “President’s Note: Misconceptions about ‘Dark Money’,” Philanthropy Roundtable, Fall 2013. Archived April 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/M8JWb
Koch Ties
In addition to support of at least $385,290 from Koch-related foundations, the Philanthropy Roundtable bestowed the “William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership” to Charles G. Koch in October 2011.10“Market-Based Man,” Philanthropy Roundtable, 2011. Archived January 19, 2016. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/3FuVT
Greenpeace has described Koch Industries, run by Charles and his brother David Koch, as a “kingpin of climate science denial,” outpacing ExxonMobil when it comes to donations to organizations opposing established climate science and regulations to combat greenhouse gas emissions.11“Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine (PDF), Greenpeace, March 2010.
Koch Family Foundations—including the David H. Koch Foundation, the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, and the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation (disbanded as of 2013)—have given over $100 Million to conservative organizations, many of which are dedicated to opposing policies to combat climate change.12“Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine,” Greenpeace.org. Accessed March 11, 2017. Data on file at DeSmog.
Stance on Climate Change
The Philanthropy Roundtable does not have an official statement on climate change. Two organizations described as “spin offs” of the Philanthropy Roundtable—Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund—have gone on to fund some of the most prominent organizations promoting climate change denial in the United States.13“Philanthropy Roundtable,” SourceWatch. Accessed April 12, 2019.
Funding
The following funding data is based on archived data from the Conservative Transparency (CT) project, combined with data from publicly available 990 tax forms reviewed by DeSmog. Note that not all CT data has been verified by DeSmog.14“Philanthropy Roundtable,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed April 11, 2019.
View the attached spreadsheet for details on Philanthropy Roundtable funding by year (.xlsx).
Philanthropy Roundtable as Recipient
| Donor | Total (1993 – 2017) |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation | $5,075,000 |
| William E. Simon Foundation | $4,000,500 |
| John Templeton Foundation | $3,727,500 |
| Donors Capital Fund | $2,854,640 |
| Searle Freedom Trust | $1,130,000 |
| Marcus Foundation | $1,000,500 |
| Walton Family Foundation | $865,800 |
| The Randolph Foundation | $784,000 |
| F.M. Kirby Foundation | $464,000 |
| Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation | $450,000 |
| DonorsTrust | $435,623 |
| Jaquelin Hume Foundation | $410,000 |
| Ruth & Lovett Peters Foundation | $400,000 |
| Allegheny Foundation | $380,000 |
| Adolph Coors Foundation | $350,000 |
| Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation | $333,454 |
| Earhart Foundation | $310,000 |
| Scaife Family Foundation | $295,000 |
| Mercer Family Foundation | $280,000 |
| John William Pope Foundation | $275,000 |
| Diana Davis Spencer Foundation | $240,000 |
| Hertog Foundation | $195,000 |
| Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation | $183,000 |
| Sarah Scaife Foundation | $180,000 |
| Schwab Charitable Fund | $176,000 |
| JM Foundation | $165,000 |
| Dodge Jones Foundation | $163,500 |
| Castle Rock Foundation | $155,000 |
| Lillian S. Wells Foundation | $131,000 |
| The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation | $128,750 |
| Ed Uihlein Family Foundation | $125,000 |
| Stuart Family Foundation | $116,500 |
| The Challenge Foundation | $100,000 |
| National Philanthropic Trust | $100,000 |
| Barney Family Foundation | $90,000 |
| Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation | $74,000 |
| The Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation | $60,000 |
| Colcom Foundation | $58,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | $56,000 |
| Ravenel and Elizabeth Curry Foundation | $55,000 |
| The Roe Foundation | $54,000 |
| Paul E. Singer Foundation | $50,000 |
| George Edward Durell Foundation | $45,000 |
| Claude R Lambe Charitable Foundation | $44,200 |
| Thomas B. Fordham Foundation | $40,000 |
| Sidney A. Swensrud Foundation | $37,000 |
| Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation | $34,616 |
| Apex Foundation | $33,500 |
| E L Craig Foundation | $25,000 |
| Joyce and Donald Rumsfeld Foundation | $20,100 |
| Armstrong Foundation | $20,000 |
| The Vernon K. Krieble Foundation | $17,500 |
| William H. Donner Foundation | $12,000 |
| Tepper Family Foundation | $11,500 |
| Bradley Impact Fund | $11,000 |
| Deramus Foundation | $10,000 |
| Charles Koch Institute | $7,636 |
| Philip M. McKenna Foundation | $7,500 |
| Einhorn Family Foundation | $6,000 |
| The Weiler Foundation | $5,000 |
| Robert and Marie Hansen Foundation | $5,000 |
| Cato Institute | $5,000 |
| The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation | $4,000 |
| Chase Foundation of Virginia | $1,500 |
| Lynn & Foster Friess Family Foundation | $1,000 |
| Richard Seth Staley Educational Foundation | $700 |
| Eyas Foundation | $500 |
| Arthur N. Rupe Foundation | $500 |
| Grand Total | $26,882,519 |
Philanthropy Roundtable as Donor
Below is a partial listing, including only the most notable donees:
| Recipient | 2007 | 2010 | 2011 | Grand Total |
| DonorsTrust | $250,000 | $250,000 | ||
| Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies | $125,000 | $125,000 | ||
| Institute for Humane Studies | $250,000 | $250,000 | ||
| Grand Total | $125,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $625,000 |
Koch Funding
| Donor | ||||
| Year | Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation | Claude R Lambe Charitable Foundation | Charles Koch Institute | Grand Total |
| 1993 | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||
| 1995 | $16,000 | $16,000 | ||
| 1996 | $2,500 | $2,500 | ||
| 1997 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| 1998 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| 1999 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| 2000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| 2001 | $5,000 | $5,000 | ||
| 2002 | $19,200 | $19,200 | ||
| 2004 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| 2005 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| 2006 | $100,000 | $100,000 | ||
| 2007 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| 2009 | $43,968 | $43,968 | ||
| 2010 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| 2011 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| 2012 | $5,777 | $5,777 | ||
| 2013 | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| 2014 | $14,209 | $7,636 | $21,845 | |
| Grand Total | $333,454 | $44,200 | $7,636 | $385,290 |
990 Forms
Key People
Board of Directors
| Name | 2001 | 2002 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Description |
| Heather Higgins | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vice Chairman | |
| Fred Klipsch | Y | Y | Y | Y | Board Member | |||||||||||
| John Jackson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Board Member | |||||||||||
| Suzie Kovner | Y | Y | Y | Board Member | ||||||||||||
| David Stover | Y | Y | Treasurer | |||||||||||||
| Heather Templeton Dill | Y | Y | Secretary | |||||||||||||
| Richard W. Graber | Y | Y | Chairman | |||||||||||||
| Daniel S. Peters | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vice Chairman | ||
| John Tyler | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Secretary | |||||||
| Donn Weinberg | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chairman and Treasurer | |||||||
| Betsy DeVos | Y | Y | Y | Chairman | ||||||||||||
| James Arthur “Art” Pope | Y | Y | Treasurer | |||||||||||||
| Denis Calabrese | Y | |||||||||||||||
| Michael W. Grebe | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chairman | ||||||
| James Piereson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vice Chairman | |||||
| Ana Thompson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Finance Committee Chair | |||||||||
| David Riggs | Y | Vice President of Philanthropic Strategy | ||||||||||||||
| Jeff D. Sandefer | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||
| Kimberly O. Dennis | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||||
| Chester E. Finn Jr. | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Secretary and Treasurer | ||||||||||
| Joseph S. Dolan | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||||||
| Joanne B. Beyer | Y | Y | Vice Chairman | |||||||||||||
| Louise V. Oliver | Y | Chairman | ||||||||||||||
| Michael S. Joyce | Y | Vice Chairman |
Staff
| Name | 1997 | 1998 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | Description |
| Adam Meyerson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | President | |||
| Anthony Pienta | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of K-12 Education Programs | ||||||||||
| Suzi Marchena | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of Finance and Human Resources | ||||||||||
| Jo Kwong | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of Economic Opportunity Programs | |||||||||||
| Rachel Verdejo | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of Foundation Relations | |||||||||||
| Karl Zinsmeister | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vice President of Publications | ||||||||||||
| Ashley May | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Managing Editor | |||||||||||||
| Patrick Burke | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Program Manager of K-12 Education Programs | |||||||||||||||
| Amanda Rossie | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||||||||||
| Katherine Haley | Y | Y | Y | Y | Senior Director of K-12 Education Programs | ||||||||||||||||
| Angie Lawry | Y | Y | Y | Vice President of Marketing and Communications | |||||||||||||||||
| Anne Snyder | Y | Y | Y | Director, Character Initiative | |||||||||||||||||
| Eric Peterman | Y | Y | Y | Development Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||
| Sean Parnell | Y | Y | Y | Vice President of Public Policy | |||||||||||||||||
| Joanne Florino | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vice President of Philanthropic Services | ||||||||||||||
| Anna Bobb | Y | Y | Director of Health Programs | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bethany Fefelov | Y | Y | Digital Strategy Manager | ||||||||||||||||||
| Caitrin Keiper | Y | Y | Editor | ||||||||||||||||||
| Courtney Ford | Y | Y | Data Strategy and Communications Manager | ||||||||||||||||||
| Molly Kincaid | Y | Y | Director of Marketing and Communications | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tareea Smith | Y | Y | Event Marketing Coordinator | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adam Kissel | Y | Director of Civic and Higher Education Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shaun Rieley | Y | Director of Veterans Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tina Cordova | Y | Director of Events | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lindsay Miller | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of Events | |||||||||||
| J. P. De Gance | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Executive Vice President | ||||||||||||||
| Marques Chavez | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of Communications | ||||||||||||||
| Christina Tenney | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of External Affairs, Culture of Freedom Initiative | ||||||||||||||||
| Cecilia Diem | Y | Y | Senior Grant Writer | ||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Moser | Y | Senior Direct Marketing Strategist, Culture of Freedom Initiative | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lauren Augustine | Y | Veteran Services Program Manager | |||||||||||||||||||
| Meg Moss | Y | Director of Strategic Engagement | |||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Meyer | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of Veterans Services | ||||||||||||||
| Caitrin Nicol Keiper | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Editor | |||||||||||||||
| Will Hild | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of External Affairs, Culture of Freedom Initiative | ||||||||||||||||
| David Riggs | Y | Y | Y | Vice President of Philanthropic Strategy | |||||||||||||||||
| Julie Drinkard | Y | Y | Y | Director of Membership | |||||||||||||||||
| Kristen McIntyre | Y | Y | Y | Strategic Communications Manager | |||||||||||||||||
| Sarah Spinner | Y | Y | Manager of Grant Strategy, Culture of Freedom Initiative | ||||||||||||||||||
| Andrea Scott | Y | Y | Y | Associate Editor | |||||||||||||||||
| Amanda Telford | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Managing Director of Operations | |||||||||||||
| Dorothy Martinez | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Senior Director of Regional Events | ||||||||
| Michael Horn | Y | Y | Y | Y | Membership Manager | ||||||||||||||||
| Cecelia Miles Hubach | Y | Y | Research and Data Coordinator | ||||||||||||||||||
| Matt Bazik | Y | Y | Data Manager | ||||||||||||||||||
| Christopher Roberts | Y | Project Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Marc Morris | Y | Development Fellow | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nicole Jarbo | Y | Director of K–12 Education Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dan Fishman | Y | Y | Director of K–12 Education Programs | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kate Bermingham | Y | Y | Executive Project Coordinator | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cassandra McClellan | Y | Meetings Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shannon Toronto | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Chief Operating Officer | ||||||||||||||
| Brian Anderson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of Technology | |||||||||||||||
| Christopher Levenick | Y | Y | Y | Y | Editor-in-Chief, Philanthropy | ||||||||||||||||
| Evan Sparks | Y | Y | Y | Managing Editor, Philanthropy | |||||||||||||||||
| Patrice Lee | Y | Y | Y | Project Manager, Public Policy | |||||||||||||||||
| Sue Santa | Y | Y | Y | Senior Vice President for Public Policy | |||||||||||||||||
| Kari Barbic | Y | Y | Associate Editor, Philanthropy | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rebecca Stewart | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of K-12 Education Programs | ||||||||||||||||
| Tom Riley | Y | Y | Vice President for Communications | ||||||||||||||||||
| Becca Wammack | Y | Executive Project Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Elizabeth Isele | Y | Director of Economic Opportunity Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Alex Echols | Y | Y | Y | Y | Director of Conservation Programs | ||||||||||||||||
| Christopher Yablonski | Y | Y | Development Director | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lynn Gibson | Y | Y | Director of Community Relations | ||||||||||||||||||
| René Krynovich | Y | Y | Annual Meeting Coordinator | ||||||||||||||||||
| Emily Dalpiaz | Y | Project Coordinator, K-12 Education Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Monica Mastracco | Y | Project Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rachel Rounsville | Y | Grant Writer | |||||||||||||||||||
| Stephanie Saroki | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Senior Director of K-12 Education Programs | |||||||||||||||
| Jenise Leaser | Y | Director of Finance and Human Resources | |||||||||||||||||||
| John Mecham | Y | Director of Helping People to Help Themselves Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jonathan Krive | Y | Development Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Kaitlyn Buss | Y | Managing Editor, Philanthropy | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lacey Yoder | Y | Acting Annual Meeting Director | |||||||||||||||||||
| Libby Greene | Y | Project Coordinator, Outcomes and Events | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jenise Snyder | Y | Y | Director of Finance and Human Resources | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk E. Oberfeld | Y | Y | Vice President for Research and Communications | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Smith | Y | Y | Director of National Security Programs | ||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Leaser | Y | Y | Managing Editor, Philanthropy | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ashley M. Hall | Y | Project Coordinator | |||||||||||||||||||
| John Agresto | Y | Director of Higher Education Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mary Johns | Y | Director of Major Events | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sharon Wood | Y | Y | Annual Meeting Director | ||||||||||||||||||
| Frederic Fransen | Y | Director of Higher Education Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Martin A. Davis | Y | Y | Y | Y | Managing Editor, Philanthropy | ||||||||||||||||
| Scott Walter | Y | Y | Y | Y | Vice President for Research and Publications | ||||||||||||||||
| Sarah Harper | Y | Y | Director of Finance and Technology | ||||||||||||||||||
| Barbara Buchanan | Y | Chief Operating Officer | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lynn Turpin | Y | Chief Operating Officer | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jean Rowan | Y | Finance and Database Administrator | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shawn Sussin | Y | Acting Vice President for Finance and Administration | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lisa F. Griffin | Y | Y | Vice President for Finance and Administration | ||||||||||||||||||
| James F.X. O’Gara | Y | Y | Y | Executive Director | |||||||||||||||||
| John P. Walters | Y | Y | Y | President | |||||||||||||||||
| Jan Forbes | Y | Assistant Art Director | |||||||||||||||||||
| Justin Torres | Y | Managing Editor, Philanthropy | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lara Y. Stead | Y | Y | Director of Associate Services | ||||||||||||||||||
| Whitney L. Ball | Y | Y | Executive Director | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dan McKivergan | Y | Director of Policy | |||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Tappan | Y | Research Associate | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jessica L. Gavora | Y | Director of Publications |
Other People
Describing its history, while it was still working under the Institute for Educational Affairs (IEA), the Philanthropy Roundtrable was headed by Leslie Lenkowsky. Kimberly Dennis served as its first executive director after the Roundtable became an independent entity in 1991 until 1996.15“History of The Philanthropy Roundtable,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/kvegv
Actions
Ongoing
The Philanthropy Roundtable hosts an annual meeting, which it describes as “The Philanthropy Roundtable’s premier event for foundation trustees and philanthropic decision makers committed to strengthening our free society and to exploring, collaborating, and solving our nation’s greatest problems through meaningful and effective philanthropy.”16“Meeting Attendance Qualifications,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/WNwkq
According to the Philanthropy Roundtable’s website, qualified attendees include:
- Individual philanthropists
- Board and Staff of Private Foundations
- Board and Staff of Operating Foundations
- Board and Staff of Corporate Foundations and Corporate Giving Programs
- CEO, Executive Director or President of Community Foundations
- CEO, Executive Director or President of Venture Philanthropy Partnerships
- CEO, Executive Director or President of Donor Advised Funds
- CEO, Executive Director or President of Regional Grantmaker Associations
- Donor Advisors may attend with a qualified donor or provide verification of registration on behalf of a qualified donor.
- CEO, Executive Director of President of qualified public charities. Qualified public charities include those that make grants in excess of one million dollars annually and devote more than half of their operating budget to grants for external activities (excluding scholarships.)
SourceWatch has documented that Charles Koch has a long history of involvement at the Roundtable’s annual meetings.
Past meetings include:
- 2018 Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida
- 2017 Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona
- 2016 Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina
- 2015 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas
- 2014 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah
- 2013 Annual Meeting in Rancho Palos Verdes, California
- 2012 Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida
- 2011 Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona
- 2010 Annual Meeting in Amelia Island, Florida
- 2009 Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 2008 Annual Meeting in Naples, Florida
- 2007 Annual Meeting in Dana Point, California
- 2006 Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina
- 2005 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona
- 2004 Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida
- 2003 Annual Meeting in Jackson, Wyoming
- 2002 Annual Meeting in Amelia Island, Florida
- 2001 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana
- 1997 Annual Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island
October 2011
The Philanthropy Roundtable administered the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership to Charles Koch. According to the description in Philanthropy magazine, “The prize is intended to honor living philanthropists who have shown exemplary leadership through their own charitable giving, either directly or through foundations they have created.”17“Market-Based Man,” Philanthropy Roundtable, 2011. Archived January 19, 2016. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/3FuVT
View Charles Koch’s acceptance speech below:
January 2005
The Philanthropy Roundtable launched the Alliance for Charitable Reform (ACR), a 501(c)(3) non-profit group that would oppose regulations on philanthropic groups. “Our mission is to promote the right of Americans to choose how and where to spend their charitable assets and to defend that right amidst legislative or political processes that weaken it,” the ACR’s website states.18“ABOUT US,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/pwIKU
ACR’s executive director is Sandra Swirski, former partner at the lobbying firm Venn Strategies, LLC and co-founder of Urban Swirski & Associates, LLC. Sean Parnell, vice president of public policy for The Philanthropy Roundtable, also serves on the staff of ACR.19“Staff,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/YZc8u
According to its history page:20“History,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jYU9Z
“In January of 2005, The Philanthropy Roundtable founded the Alliance for Charitable Reform (ACR). ACR was formed as an emergency advocacy initiative to respond to legislative efforts on Capitol Hill targeted at the charitable community and help bring common sense to the charitable reform debate protecting philanthropic freedom in America – particularly from the perspective of smaller, family foundations.”21“History,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jYU9Z
The group’s early efforts included opposition to what it describes as “potentially harmful policy changes” including “accreditation requirements on tax-exempt organizations, mandatory five-year reviews of tax-exempt status, and limits on types of organizations that foundations could support.”22“History,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jYU9Z
In 2008, ACR boasts of fighting in the California Legislature against bills that “would have significantly increased onerous reporting requirements for foundations and their grantees.”23“History,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jYU9Z
1997
A 1997 report by the National Committee on Responsive Philanthropy, quoted by Media Transparency, documented the participation of the Koch Brothers in the 1995 annual conference:24“The Strategic Philanthropy of Conservative Foundations: Moving a Public Policy Agenda,” National Committee on Responsive Philanthropy, 1997. Quoted by Media Transparency. Archived March 10, 2012. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/gPGL2
“In a presentation at the Philanthropy Roundtable’s 1995 annual conference, Richard Fink, president of the Charles G. Koch and Claude R. Lambe charitable foundations, made good use of market metaphors to outline how foundations can exert the greatest impact on public policy. Adapting laissez-faire economist Friedrich Hayek’s model of the production process to social change grant-making, Fink argued that the translation of ideas into action requires the development of intellectual raw materials, their conversion into specific policy products, and the marketing and distribution of these products to citizen-consumers.
“Grantmakers, Fink argued, would do well to invest in change along the entire production continuum, funding scholars and university programs where the intellectual framework for social transformation is developed, think tanks where scholarly ideas get translated into specific policy proposals, and implementation groups to bring these proposals into the political marketplace and eventually to consumers.”
Related Organizations
- Institute for Educational Affairs (IEA) — Initially the parent organization for the Philanthropy Roundtable in the 1970s.25“History of The Philanthropy Roundtable,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/kvegv
- DonorsTrust (DT) and Donors Capital Fund (DCF) — Whitney Ball, the former executive director for the Philanthropy Roundtable, went on to found DT and DCF.26Justin Farrell. “The growth of climate change misinformation in US philanthropy: evidence from natural language processing” (PDF), Environmental Research Letters. 14 034013 (2019).
- State Policy Network (SPN) — Member.27“Philanthropy Roundtable,” SPN. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/ErBVq
- Alliance for Charitable Reform (ACR) — Project of Philanthropy Roundtable launched in 2005.28“ABOUT US,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/pwIKU
Contact & Address
As of 2019, The Philanthropy Roundtable listed the following contact information on its website:29“Contact Us,” The Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/lYWL5
1120 20th Street NW
Suite 550 South
Washington, D.C. 20036Phone: 202.822.8333
Fax: 202.822.8325
[email protected]
Social Media
- The Philanthropy Roundtable on LinkedIn
- The Phianthropy Roundtable on YouTube
- @PhilanthropyRnd on Twitter.
Other Resources
- “Philanthropy Roundtable,” SourceWatch.
- “Philanthropy Roundtable,” Wikipedia.
- John R. Mashey. “Fake science, fakexperts, funny finances, free of tax 2 SEPP, Heartland, CSCDGC, allies & DONORS” (PDF), V2 (10/23/12). DeSMog.
Resources
- 1“Who We Are,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/AtDYm
- 2“History of The Philanthropy Roundtable,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/kvegv
- 3“Directors & Staff,” DonorsTrust. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Z5oHw
- 4“Our Board,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived August 13, 2012. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/1HyAV
- 5Justin Farrell. “The growth of climate change misinformation in US philanthropy: evidence from natural language processing” (PDF), Environmental Research Letters. 14 034013 (2019).
- 6“Philanthropy Roundtable,” Media Matters. Archived May 3, 2012. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/IJFO0
- 7“ABOUT US,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/pwIKU
- 8Adam Meyerson. “President’s Note: Misconceptions about ‘Dark Money’,” Philanthropy Roundtable, Fall 2013. Archived April 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/M8JWb
- 9Adam Meyerson. “President’s Note: Misconceptions about ‘Dark Money’,” Philanthropy Roundtable, Fall 2013. Archived April 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/M8JWb
- 10“Market-Based Man,” Philanthropy Roundtable, 2011. Archived January 19, 2016. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/3FuVT
- 11“Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine (PDF), Greenpeace, March 2010.
- 12“Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine,” Greenpeace.org. Accessed March 11, 2017. Data on file at DeSmog.
- 13“Philanthropy Roundtable,” SourceWatch. Accessed April 12, 2019.
- 14“Philanthropy Roundtable,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed April 11, 2019.
- 15“History of The Philanthropy Roundtable,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/kvegv
- 16“Meeting Attendance Qualifications,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/WNwkq
- 17“Market-Based Man,” Philanthropy Roundtable, 2011. Archived January 19, 2016. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/3FuVT
- 18“ABOUT US,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/pwIKU
- 19“Staff,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/YZc8u
- 20“History,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jYU9Z
- 21“History,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jYU9Z
- 22“History,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jYU9Z
- 23“History,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/jYU9Z
- 24“The Strategic Philanthropy of Conservative Foundations: Moving a Public Policy Agenda,” National Committee on Responsive Philanthropy, 1997. Quoted by Media Transparency. Archived March 10, 2012. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/gPGL2
- 25“History of The Philanthropy Roundtable,” Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 11, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/kvegv
- 26Justin Farrell. “The growth of climate change misinformation in US philanthropy: evidence from natural language processing” (PDF), Environmental Research Letters. 14 034013 (2019).
- 27“Philanthropy Roundtable,” SPN. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/ErBVq
- 28“ABOUT US,” Alliance for Charitable Reform. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/pwIKU
- 29“Contact Us,” The Philanthropy Roundtable. Archived April 12, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/lYWL5
