The Chronicle of Philanthropy | Pablo Eisenberg

Attorney General Inquiry Into Hershey School Resolves Little

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:00:00 EDT

The conclusions, which absolve leaders of wrongdoing, are hard to square with what journalists and advocacy groups have reported.

Nonprofit Abuses Won’t Stop Without Tougher Regulators

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EDT

Federal rules on charities need to prevent self-dealing, excessive compensation, and other problems undermining trust in charities.

Foundations Must Step Up Giving to Government Watchdogs

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:22:00 EDT

President Obama's bad decisions about mixing money and politics, and his ill-considered use of community organizing, make clear why such groups need to be strong.

A Veteran Foundation Board Member’s Advice on Grant Making

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:05:00 EST

Tom Scanlon, who spent 40 years in service to the Public Welfare Foundation, says it's bad to follow fads and skimp on small grants to new groups.

Rockefeller’s Political Grant Wastes Money

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:21:00 EST

The foundation's effort to insert itself into the mayor's race and take the side of businesses undermines its mission to help the neediest citizens.

Nonprofits Should Focus on Gun Control—Not Donor Tax Breaks

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 EST

The tragic shooting in Newtown, Conn. underlines the absurdity of the massive effort nonprofits have put into protecting the charitable deduction.

Charities Shouldn’t Strive to Have One Central Voice

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EDT

Independent Sector's self-serving and opaque report calling for one organization to be a hub for nonprofit advocacy misses the mark and focuses on the wrong priorities.

Ford Needs a Smarter Approach to Newspaper Grants

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EDT

The foundation’s announcement that it is providing $500,000 to help The Washington Post strengthen its coverage is inappropriate and a waste of money.

A United Way’s Misguided Focus on Big Charities

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:45:00 EDT

The District of Columbia United Way follows other donors that are increasingly causing the gap to grow between haves and have-nots in the nonprofit world.

The Broken Nonprofit Board System Needs a Fix

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:12:00 EDT

With so many boards failing to prevent financial and other wrongdoing, we need new ways to monitor charities and investigate whistle-blower complaints.

How Philanthropists Can Promote Democracy: Buy a Daily Newspaper

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:30:00 EDT

Grant makers and wealthy donors need to recognize that they can't promote their goals to improve society if the nation's daily newspapers keep cutting back.

It’s Time to Ensure That Nonprofit Hospitals Serve the Poor

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:06:00 EDT

Nothing the Supreme Court does in the coming days will force nonprofit hospitals to do more to serve the needy. Congress should remedy that situation now.

U. of Texas Scandal Shows Power of Media to Spotlight Charity Abuses

Sun, 27 May 2012 13:00:00 EDT

Reporters have come under criticism for questioning a powerful and respected nonprofit leader in Dallas, but without their efforts, nobody would have known about hundreds of thousands of dollars of inappropriate spending.

End the 'Witch Hunt’ Approach at Catholic Community-Organizing Fund

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:01:00 EDT

The Campaign for Human Development, a Catholic group that provides $8-million a year to charities, has bowed too far to pressure from conservative bishops, casting out groups that have even the remotest association with organizations that oppose church teachings.

The New York Times Was Wrong to Abandon Philanthropy

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EDT

As one of the last full-time reporters to cover nonprofits is reassigned to business coverage, the news media is no longer doing its job to hold charities accountable.

Fighting Fraud and Promoting Social Equity: a Nonprofit Agenda

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

Charity and foundation leaders need to figure out how to do a better job of serving a society that is divided over class, ideology, and financial scarcity.

Misplaced Giving Priorities of America’s Wealthy

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

At a time when nonprofits are closing and demand for their services is rising, why are rich donors directing their money to causes that are not urgent, such as aiding the National Zoo’s pandas?

A Foundation Leader With Innovation and Risk-Taking in His DNA

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST

Owen Lopez's nearly two-decade tenure leading the McCune Charitable Foundation, in Santa Fe, ends this year, but his mark on philanthropy endures.

A Charity Scoundrel’s Death Marks the End of an Era

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST

William Aramony, who spent six years in jail for misdeeds as head of United Way of America, was so flagrant in his abuse of power, it was easy for regulators to catch him. Today's scandals are often harder to detect.

Nonprofits Need to Put Aside Self-Interest in Tax Debate

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EDT

Charities need to push for a more equitable tax system and economic aid that creates jobs, not write-offs for rich donors.

A Case for Nonprofit Regulation

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EDT

One of America's wealthiest nonprofits, the Milton Hershey School, created by the chocolate entrepreneur, has failed to fix conflicts of interest and other governance issues, pointing to the need for government to step in.

Philanthropy Needs a Leader Who Takes Risks

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EDT

The Council on Foundations should pick a leader who can provide vision and values for America's grant makers.

'Freedom From Fear’ Awards Show Grant Making at Its Best

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EDT

Two foundation program leaders decided not to take money they won for their own use—but instead started an ambitious new effort to honor people who aid immigrants and refugees.

Foundation Boards Shouldn't Be Filled Just With Wealthy People

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Foundations are the last vestiges of royalty in our society—and unless that changes, they will continue to be staid, unimaginative, and anti-democratic.

Grant Makers Should Rethink Their Agenda to Meet Society’s Needs

Sun, 01 May 2011 13:00:00 EDT

The Council on Foundations' public-policy goals should reflect key issues, like diversity and the amount of money that goes to charity instead of overhead, writes a Chronicle columnist.

Real Leadership Doesn’t Develop in Classrooms

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EDT

Programs like the Peace Corps and Teach for America are better at building the skills leaders need, writes Pablo Eisenberg, a Chronicle columnist.