Opinion: Independence Is Philanthropy’s Strength

The independence of the nonprofit world and its ability to take risks make it a valuable resource for President-elect Barack Obama as he faces the challenges awaiting him when he takes office this month, writes Jane Wales, in a column in The San Francisco Chronicle.

Ms. Wales, vice president for philanthropy and society at the Aspen Institute, argues that preserving the freedom of philanthropy will be vital to its partnership with the new administration.