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October 15, 2008

Foundation Association Hires First Public-Policy Director

The Philanthropy Roundtable, a Washington association of grant makers and philanthropists, is strengthening its ability to lobby Capitol Hill, in part to fight potential new federal rules on foundations.

Last month, the organization hired Sue Santa, a former corporate lawyer and aide to a Democratic senator, to fill the new position of senior vice president for public policy.

In a statement, the roundtable said Ms. Santa would seek “to protect philanthropic freedom from threats posed in Washington, D.C., and across the country.”

The roundtable did not name the threats, but the association has opposed, among other proposals, a push by state legislators and others to persuade foundations to disclose information on the diversity of their grant recipients. employees, and boards.

Ms. Santa previously oversaw public and legal affairs for the International Speedway Corporation, which promotes and oversees motor-sports events. Before that she worked as an associate in the law offices of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand, and as a staff member for Senator Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat from New Mexico.

This is not the Philanthropy Roundtable’s first step into legislative advocacy. In 2005, it established the Alliance for Charitable Reform to respond to scrutiny of grant makers by Iowa Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley.

Adam Meyerson, the association’s president, said the hiring of Ms. Santa “represents a more permanent commitment to the subject” of public policy.

— Ian Wilhelm

Wednesday October 15, 2008 | Permalink

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