The growing concentration of wealth and power is distorting philanthropy and imperiling democracy. Philanthropy has become one more way for the nation’s wealthiest people to use their money and power to exert undue influence over public policy and the foundations of our democracy such as education and healthcare.

Over the last two decades, charitable giving has been on a steady upward trajectory. But this growth has masked a troubling trend: Charity is becoming increasingly undemocratic, with organizations relying more on larger donations from a smaller number of wealthy donors while receiving shrinking amounts of revenue from donors at lower-and middle-income levels. This reliance can create pressure on organizations to shift missions and programming towards the interest of those wealthy donors.

Our Charity Reform Initiative conducts cutting-edge research, publishes original commentary, and organizes for legislative reform with all different kinds of stakeholders across the philanthropic sector.

Our goals are to:

• Increase the flow of resources to the independent nonprofit sector through a healthy, vibrant, diversified donor base (and discourage warehousing of wealth, philanthropic wealth dynasties, and inefficient private foundations).
• Protect democratic institutions from concentrated private power, including concentrated philanthropic power and influence.
• Protect the integrity of the tax system, particularly as it relates to taxing income, wealth and estates of the very wealthy (prevent charity from being an escape hatch/tax dodge).
• Protect the independence and integrity of the nonprofit sector against pressures from concentrated wealth –restore broad donor support for the sector.
• Strengthen public oversight of the charitable giving system and strengthen private association norms to prevent future abuses.