Appreciating a Life of Public Service

To the Editor:

Adam Yarmolinsky, who died on January 5, has been applauded by a number of our nation’s leaders for his contributions to government service, particularly through President John F. Kennedy’s “New Frontier” agenda and President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” But his public-service contributions outside of government, though less well known, also are of enormous importance.

Mr. Yarmolinsky’s independent-sector interests were both wide-ranging and exceedingly effective, covering not only ethical issues such as sound standards for non-profit reporting and accountability, but also protection of the lobbying rights of non-profit organizations, safeguarding the tax deductibility of charitable contributions, and protecting the charitable-solicitation rights of non-profits. As an author, scholar, and activist, Mr. Yarmolinsky worked to strengthen understanding of democracy both domestically and globally.

Mr. Yarmolinsky’s strong and effective leadership at devising sanctions to address misuse of charitable assets by officers, directors, and other “insiders” of non-profits was emblematic of his concern about the importance of ethical behavior in safeguarding the public trust for charitable endeavor. …

But Mr. Yarmolinsky was not only a major independent-sector leader. To many of us he was also a mentor, a trusted friend, a critic when it was needed, and a hero.

Bob Smucker
Co-Director
Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest
Washington