A call for a transatlantic retreat on the State of Philanthropy

I recently traveled to Brussels to see my long-time friends Gerry Salole and Rien van Gendt at the European Foundation Centre. As usual, we spoke about the status of philanthropy in Europe and the United States. A huge topic, indeed.

American foundations are not facing up to and acting on a central reality of our time…if you can’t win and hold power within our country’s key institutions, we risk losing on just about every issue we care about. I believe this fight is about equity and trust. But it is also about power, values, ideology. It seems to me that there is much to discuss amongst European and American philanthropies, so much that resonates with situations developing in each of our regions. So, I welcome Gerry and Rien’s idea to provide a safe space for a continuing discussion with concerned peers in a transatlantic retreat on the State of Philanthropy. We each have a lot to learn, from each other and about the new world in which we all operate.

[Marjorie Benton is a fundraiser and grantor for organizations whose missions focus on women and children’s issues, and peace and disarmament. She is on the board of trustees for the Benton Foundation.]