Program’s critic defends his views
To the Editor: In his letter to the editor (“General Powell’s Charity Deserves Government Support,” September 7) Peter A. Gallagher, president of America’s Promise, accuses me of writing an article about his organization that is “laced with inaccuracies” and “ill-informed.” As an example, he cites…
What Philanthropy Can Do to Improve Elections
To the Editor: Jennifer Moore and Grant Williams provide an important overview of how grant makers are seeking to stir voter interest and fair elections (“Philanthropy and the Ballot Box,” August 10). Given our shrinking voter turnout, especially among young people, I applaud each of the projects…
Communication Key to Foundations’ Prosperity
By ALLAN PARACHINIOf all the divides that separate the press and institutions on which they report, few are as broad -- and populated by hurt feelings and suspicions -- as the one between journalists and foundations. Foundation officials -- often very high officials -- justify their unwillingness…
By Allan Parachini
Contributor
Foundations Don’t Understand What It Means to Take Risks
MARK R. KRAMERPeople generally want to get the most results with the least risk -- at least that is what they tell their investment advisers. In the peculiar world of philanthropy, however, grant makers seem to have it backward. They ignore results by avoiding program evaluations, and constantly…
Form 990: the good and the bad
LETTERS TO THE EDITORTo the Editor: It was with some interest that I read the “My View” article by Dan Prives (“Accountability Web Site: More Harm Than Good?,” July 27). I recently left the Internal Revenue Service after nearly 25 years dealing with tax-exempt organizations, the last 10 of which I…
General Powell’s Charity Deserves Government Support
LETTERS TO THE EDITORTo the Editor: Pablo Eisenberg’s recent opinion piece about America’s Promise-The Alliance for Youth (“General Powell’s About-Face on Private Aid,” August 24) was ill-informed and laced with inaccuracies, and missed the point. Mr. Eisenberg criticizes the America’s Promise…
Anti-Business Bias Is Bad Business
By HILDY GOTTLIEBWhen I was growing up, my father owned a small store in a declining inner-city neighborhood. While the faces in the neighborhood changed, my father was always the same, greeting each customer by name and bringing their stories home at dinner time. Next door to my father’s store was…
By HILDY GOTTLIEB
Contributor
General Powell’s About-Face on Private Aid
PABLO EISENBERGAmerica’s Promise, the national organization led by Gen. Colin Powell, was created to mobilize private funds and other resources to help disadvantaged youths. Now the organization is doing an about-face and is eager to accept $7.5-million in federal support that Congress is expected…
LETTERS TO THE EDITORTo the Editor: I commend The Chronicle for providing strong coverage of Congressional proposals to repeal the estate tax, both in the front-page article “A Taxing Dilemma” and the opinion piece “Ducking Debate on Repeal of Estate Tax” in the July 27 issue. Recent Senate and…
Estate-Tax Repeal: What Would It Mean for Philanthropy?
LETTERS TO THE EDITORTo the Editor: In Thomas J. Billitteri’s otherwise balanced and informative article (“A Taxing Dilemma,” July 27) on the pros and cons of the estate-tax repeal, there is one important omission. Throughout the article those who favor the estate tax, or cite its value in…