How would incentives to donate change once you reformed the law? Furthermore, what if a foundation isn’t able to allocate more than a certain amount of its resources effectively? It is unfortunate that many large foundations don’t spend more then their required payout, but I’m unconvinced by the article that regulation is the key barrier to spending down. Maybe we need foundation leadership (some foundations paving the way of spending down and sharing with the rest how that might be done) and maybe we need better frameworks. But the idea that donors and foundations are simply hoarders of wealth that will only respond to increased regulation seems a bit too simple-minded and uncharitable to me.
COMMENTS
BY Tony Wang
ON July 18, 2008 02:47 PM
How would incentives to donate change once you reformed the law? Furthermore, what if a foundation isn’t able to allocate more than a certain amount of its resources effectively? It is unfortunate that many large foundations don’t spend more then their required payout, but I’m unconvinced by the article that regulation is the key barrier to spending down. Maybe we need foundation leadership (some foundations paving the way of spending down and sharing with the rest how that might be done) and maybe we need better frameworks. But the idea that donors and foundations are simply hoarders of wealth that will only respond to increased regulation seems a bit too simple-minded and uncharitable to me.