Philanthropy Must Encourage Open Debate
February 17, 2005 | Read Time: 1 minute
To the Editor:
What is ironic and, indeed, sad about Emmett Carson’s response (February 3) to my critique of the Council on Foundations (“Grant Makers Need Leadership,” Opinion, January 6) is that all of the points I raised in my column are criticisms that have been made off the record by numerous past and current board and staff members of the council and by dozens of foundation executives throughout the country. It is a pity that the culture of philanthropy and its excessive collegiality doesn’t permit much, if any, serious debate and soul-searching about the sector’s problems and challenges.
It is time for the silent critics to come out into the open and level with their colleagues and the public.
Pablo Eisenberg
Senior Fellow
Georgetown University Public Policy Institute
Washington
