International Critique Was ‘Insulting’

To the Editor:

It is indeed unfortunate that The Chronicle found it necessary to include not one, but two, anti-international grant making letters to the editor in recent editions — both scribed by the same person, a retired military officer who has traveled extensively but who bears no particular credibility on international grant-making concerns and whose analysis is contorted and insulting.

While The Chronicle frequently features dissenting voices on matters of importance to the philanthropic community, I have never before read a piece that specifically spoke against funding a particular concern. This is as it should be. The Chronicle, though needing to remain critical, needs also to keep it positive. I wonder if the editor would even consider publishing a letter opposing funding for, say, immigrants’ rights or the rights of gays and lesbians — concerns not popular among some philanthropists, but nevertheless critical issues to many in the United States.

It was particularly unfortunate that the second of the two letters appeared in the same edition as an article on the Global Philanthropy Forum. At this gathering, dozens of philanthropic leaders spoke positively on international grant making, tapping into their combined experiences in just about every country on the planet. These women and men indeed know a great deal about the challenges and opportunities of globally minded grant making. They made a compelling case for international philanthropic engagement to the more than 300 participants in the forum.

With all due respect to his skills and experiences, I, for one, would not look to a retired military officer for advice on international grant making. I would look to leaders with specific experience on how global philanthropy is making a profound difference in the lives of millions of people. For the benefit of its readership, so should The Chronicle.

John Harvey
Executive Director
Grantmakers Without Borders
Boston