Givers, Doers, & Thinkers—A Podcast on Philanthropy and Civil Society · Jeremy Beer

Christie Herrera & protecting philanthropic freedom

·35 min·2 clips

She says donor disclosure would hurt “everyday givers” while big organizations can absorb the legal costs.

1. Givers, Doers, & Thinkers focuses on Christy Herrera and the threats facing American charitable giving. 2. Jeremy Beer speaks with Christy Herrera, president and CEO of Philanthropy Roundtable, because she leads the organization’s philanthropic freedom work. 3. The episode asks what donors should do when higher education, donor privacy, and charitable governance collide. 4. Herrera says Philanthropy Roundtable is “the only home for donors who share our values” and names liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility as the organization’s priorities. 5. She says the Roundtable combines three services: defending philanthropic freedom, helping donors give more effectively, and connecting them with values-aligned grantees. 6. Beer turns first to higher education after October 7, the Hamas attack on Israel, and the campus protests and hearings that followed. 7. Herrera says higher education is “having a moment right now,” with donor exits from Ivy League buildings and scrutiny of university presidents. 8. She gives three pieces of advice for higher-ed donors: leave an alma mater if needed, fund individuals and ideas instead of institutions, and push for reform from the outside. 9. Herrera names Ben Sasse at the University of Florida, the University of North Carolina system, the University of Chicago, and the University of Austin as examples of institutions or leaders giving donors alternatives. 10. She says smaller faith-based liberal arts schools such as Hillsdale and the University of Dallas need alumni-style support from people who are dissatisfied with their old schools. 11. Herrera tells donors to put restrictions in writing and to scrutinize gift agreements so donor intent is not violated. 12. She cites the Moritz family in Columbus, Ohio, whose scholarship endowment was allegedly used partly for university operations instead of the promised scholarships. 13. Herrera says year-to-year giving can create accountability, because large unrestricted gifts can leave universities with too much freedom to divert money. 14. She argues that trade schools, technical institutes, community colleges, and workforce development deserve more support than they have received. 15. Herrera cites the Marcus Foundation in Georgia and Construction Ready as an example of donor support for construction-industry workforce training. 16. She warns that some direct-services charities have drifted toward “social justice” and DEI language, so donors need to watch mission changes closely. 17. The conversation then shifts to philanthropic freedom, which Herrera defines as donors’ right to give how and when and where they choose. 18. Herrera says attacks on donor privacy, including demands for disclosure of names, addresses, and gift amounts, can lead to harassment and reduced giving, and she points to 17 states, ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and LGBTQ groups supporting privacy protections. 19. The interview has a policy-heavy, explanatory style with Beer asking follow-ups and Herrera answering in concrete examples and practical advice. 20. Listeners interested in donor intent, higher-ed reform, and charitable privacy will get the most from this episode; listeners wanting a neutral overview of philanthropy debates may skip it.

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