Lawson Bader

Since 2015, Lawson Bader serves as president and CEO of DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund. Before coming to DonorsTrust, he amassed twenty years’ experience leading free-market research and advocacy groups including the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He began his career in DC in as special assistant at the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, then worked as a legislative analyst/paralegal with Pierson, Semmes & Finley, and managed government relations at SRI International. He is a former weekly columnist with Human Events, and a current contributor to Kiplinger and member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council. He also serves on the governing boards of the Atlas Network, State Policy Network, and Oakseed Ministries International. Lawson earned a BA in political science from Wheaton College (IL) and an MA in public policy from The Johns Hopkins University.

People with mouths taped over representing donor anonymity and free speech in charitable giving being violated
Salesforce CEO Understates the Importance of Free Speech in Giving

Donors should be afforded the chance to donate anonymously, but that right is under fire from both sides of the political aisle.

Lawson Bader & Heather Lauer / 2 min read
Empty college campus indicating donors stopping giving because of lack of free speech
Charitable givers putting colleges, universities on notice

More donors will likely follow suit in the months ahead.

Lawson Bader / 3 min read
The battle for philanthropic freedom

Lawmakers are forgetting that regulating philanthropy stifles individual donors, devastates the philanthropic sector, and harms civil society.

Lawson Bader / 3 min read
Navigating philanthropy in 2021

If the nonprofit sector is going to continue to thrive through 2021, philanthropists need to ward off “philanthropy fatigue.”

Lawson Bader / 3 min read
donor-advised funds covid-19 relief
Donor-advised funds and foundations play a critical role during—and after—crises

While many suggest that donor-advised funds should be mandated to pay down and increase their giving to COVID-19 relief, DAFs are already increasing payouts to those in need—without federal mandates.

Lawson Bader / 3 min read