Philanthropy on Trial

Charged with not fulfilling its mission of advancing the public good, philanthropy was put on trial at the April 2011 Council on Foundations’ conference. Former Atlantic Philanthropies President and CEO Gara LaMarche served as the prosecution, and Ralph R. Smith, Executive Vice President of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, played the role of the defense attorney. The sentence, if found guilty, was loss of philanthropy’s specialised tax status.

Ultimately, the jury was hung in its verdict, but leaned in favour of the prosecution by 10-2.