Conservative Foundations More Strategic in Advancing Agendas?

According to a new report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) between 2002 to 2005, more than 1,200 foundations contributed some $380 million to 104 organizations advocating for school vouchers and K-12 education tax credits. With the exception of the Gates Foundation, which supported school choice organizations for reasons other than the promotion of school vouchers, all are considered to be ideologically conservative.

What's fascinating about the report, and the angle taken by NCRP, is the tactics that conservative foundations use to advance their issues. This report confirms what many of us have long known: multi-year, general operating grants offer conservative organizations the ability to build their capacity for long-term impact rather than for short-term fundraising success.

Susan Herr