There’s No One Way to Ensure Diversity

To the Editor:

Stephen Viederman is quite right that any national commission established to assess the future of our non-profit sector should reflect the diversity of the sector and the constituencies it represents (“If Same Old Suspects Lead a Review, Philanthropy Won’t Profit,” Letters to the Editor, March 9). The problem, as he indicates, is the process by which the commission might be selected and organized.

It was a lot easier 25 years ago. John D. Rockefeller, with the support of the Treasury Department and some foundations, established the Filer Commission, appointed John Filer as chairman and Leonard Silverstein as executive director, and selected the panel’s members. While the latter were distinguished and capable, they weren’t representative of much of the sector. The Donee Group of non-profits, which the commission financed, helped to provide some balance to the effort.

Today there is no obvious starting point. There is no natural convener. The cost of a lengthy, national, and comprehensive process of organizing a new commission, setting its agenda, and selecting the members could be financially prohibitive. The federal government or some foundations could launch the effort, but we would not want them to sponsor or control the process.

Where, then, could we begin? I have no perfect solution to this dilemma.

I suggested (“Filer Redux: Philanthropy at a Crossroads,” Opinion, February 10) that we might start the process by getting four national organizations and some others to be the original conveners. There would obviously have to be wide consultation before the commission could be officially established. And, most certainly, that comprehensive approach to community needs and ideas which Mr. Viederman recommends would be a part of the work of the proposed commission. These concerns would be, I trust, reflected in the group of eight to ten conveners.

You have to start somewhere. If there are some more specific and better ways to get the ball rolling, I and others would like to hear them.

Pablo Eisenberg
Senior Fellow
Georgetown University Public Policy Institute
Washington