The Philanthropy Roundtable is a nonprofit organization that advises conservative philanthropists[3][4][5] and advocates for philanthropic freedom and donor privacy.[6]
History
The Roundtable was founded in 1987 as a project of the now-defunct Institute For Educational Affairs. It was founded as a conservative alternative to the Council on Foundations, a nonprofit membership association of donors.[7][8] Membership in the organization was free "to interested grant makers", and 140 foundations, charities and nonprofits joined in the Roundtable's first year.[9][10]
The organization has a bimonthly newsletter, Philanthropy, which evolved into a quarterly magazine in 2011.[9] In 2016, the Roundtable published the Almanac of American Philanthropy, a reference book that summarizes the history, purposes, effects, and modern direction of private giving.[16]
In 2005, Philanthropy Roundtable created the Alliance For Charitable Reform (ACR), which opposes legislation that would create accreditation requirements for grant-making foundations, establish a five-year Internal Revenue Service review of tax-exempt status, or restrict the ability of donors to establish family foundations.[17][18]
Kimberly Dennis was the organization's first executive director. She served as executive director from 1991 through 1996. John P. Walters assumed administrative leadership of the organization in the new role of president in 1997 when the organization moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C.[12] Walters remained in that position until resigning in October 2001[11] to accept an appointment by George W. Bush as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.[4] Adam Meyerson served as the organization's president from 2001 to 2020. In June 2020, he was replaced by Elise Westhoff, who was named president and chief executive officer.[21][22] In October 2023, Christie Herrera was promoted to president and CEO.[6]
