A blog by William Schambra, Daniel Schmidt, and Michael Hartmann. Learn more->

23
Sep
2022
Some narrowness in longtermism

The short of it: in his new book’s ambitious thinking about the “full scale of human history,” William MacAskill undervalues the past—by definition, but more than needed—and elides in practice what that thinking could perhaps offer those of a different ideological worldview.


15
Aug
2022
Data and drama, studies and stories, and guidance for philanthropic decision-makers from Wild Problems

The popular EconTalk podcast host Russ Roberts’ new book offers a helpful insight to any grantmakers willing to receive it—and self-aware enough to risk considering themselves as essentially engaged in art, not science.


06
Jul
2022
Thoughts on philanthropy from books featured in The Giving Review in first half of 2022

A mid-year collection of interesting and insightful passages.


29
Jun
2022
Thomas Piketty proposes specific tax scale for nonprofit endowments

Don’t miss influential author, in new book, floating idea “in order to avoid an excessive concentration of power within a small number of entities and to enable less wealthy entities to develop.”


14
Jun
2022
Differences, and the risk of similarities, between government and private grantmaking

Claire Dunning’s impressive new history on government support of nonprofits in Boston offers helpful insights for private philanthropy.


02
Jun
2022

19
May
2022
Philanthropy in The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order

Historian Gary Gerstle’s new book on America in what he considers the bygone free-market era includes a role for philanthropy in its narrative—well, at least in its purportedly “Powell-ian” rise, anyway.


12
Jan
2022
Philanthropy’s corruption of politics, and vice versa

“Using tax privileges, matching grants, special restrictions, and unique legal devices, the modern state gives the practice of philanthropy its particular strength and texture,” according to Theodore M. Lechterman. “Which if any of these regulatory strategies can be justified requires careful analysis and evaluation.”


22
Dec
2021
Thoughts on philanthropy from books featured in The Giving Review in the second half of 2021

A year-end collection of interesting and insightful passages.


15
Dec
2021