Giving Ventures

Avik Roy, founder of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, and John Hood, president of the John William Pope Foundation, dive into the emergence of Freedom Conservatism. They discuss its philosophical roots, responding to nationalism's rise, and how it aims to embody classical liberalism. The duo shares insights on the movement's branding, donor reactions, and internal disputes over values and tactics. They also explore strategies for building influence in policy circles and fostering a new generation within the movement.

There was a time in the not-too-distant past where every political candidate looking to tout his or her conservative principles trotted out connections to and affinities for Ronald Reagan. And in a certain subset, those who really wanted to signal they were committed to smaller or more limited government reached even farther back into history, preaching the wisdom of President Calvin Coolidge. So what do their legacies look like today in this interesting political moment we find ourselves in? This episode of Giving Ventures features the leaders of both the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute as well as the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.First, Amity Shlaes, chair of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, discusses how Coolidge’s ideals are being revived and instilled in new generations. Next, David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, shares how Reagan’s timeless principles are being adapted to modern challenges.

In an era where federal overreach seems to be the norm, the concept of federalism stands as a beacon of hope for many seeking a return to localized power and decision-making. In this episode, Tony Woodlief of the State Policy Network's Center for Practical Federalism shares insights into how states can reclaim their autonomy from an ever-expanding federal government.This episode goes beyond American civics and history, diving deep into the practical tools and strategies available to state and local officials aiming to push back against federal encroachment and restore the balance of power envisioned by the framers of the Constitution.Tony Woodlief is a Senior Fellow at the State Policy Network's Center for Practical Federalism and author of I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance. His work focuses on empowering state and local governments to reclaim authority and push back against federal overreach.

California has long been a trendsetter...but not always for the right reasons. Known for its innovative spirit and sun-soaked coastline, the state grapples with a multitude of policy challenges, from housing costs to environmental regulations. California's decisions often ripple across the nation, influencing policies from coast to coast. This episode features interviews with leaders from two influential think tanks—Pacific Research Institute and California Policy Center—about their efforts to counteract detrimental policies and promote free-market solutions in the Golden State. These organizations are not only tackling local issues but are also providing a blueprint for other states to avoid California's pitfalls.Sally Pipes is the longtime president of the Pacific Research Institute, a healthcare expert, and author of several books. Rowena Itchon serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the Pacific Research Institute. Will Swaim is the president of the California Policy Center.

In recent years, the landscape of free speech on college campuses has become a battleground, with incidents of censorship and cancel culture making headlines. Yet, out of this challenge, a new wave of hope is rising—one led by passionate alumni who are taking action to restore open discourse.This episode features three leaders from organizations working tirelessly to promote free speech: Charles Mitchell from the Open Discourse Coalition, Todd Rulon-Miller from Princetonians for Free Speech, and Peter Bonilla from the MIT Free Speech Alliance. Each brings a unique perspective and strategy to this shared mission, showcasing how alumni can be pivotal in reshaping the academic environment.

Affordable housing is a persistent challenge in American politics. Bad public policy leads to artificial housing supply restrictions which causes prices to rise. But stimulating housing supply to bring costs down is a thorny issue.The latest episode of Giving Ventures brings together Sonja Trauss from Yes in My Backyard and Charles Gardner from the Mercatus Center to explore how grassroots advocacy and deregulation can make housing more abundant and more affordable. Sonja is the Founder and Executive Director of Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY), a grassroots organization that aims to address the housing shortage by advocating for policies that promote affordable housing. Charles is a Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center, where he explores housing policy, zoning, and land use. He brings a legal background and experience as an elected official in Connecticut to his work on housing policy.

From the challenges posed by technology use to political biases creeping into the therapist's office, America is experiencing something of a mental health crisis. To help address this critical issue, the Philanthropy Roundtable recently compiled a Mental Health Playbook that provides philanthropists with an introduction to the most effective organizations working to solve this crisis while remaining faithful to the principles of liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility. As the Roundtable explained in a recent article, private philanthropy is "essential to confronting our nation’s mental health crisis" because "it’s flexible and nimble, allowing the most effective, unique approaches to emerge."To learn more about the Playbook and to get a look at two of the organizations it highlights, Peter assembled a panel for this episode of Giving Ventures.Esther Larson is the Senior Director of Programs at the Philanthropy Roundtable. She spearheaded the creation of the Mental Health Playbook, a resource designed to guide donors through the complex landscape of mental health funding.Dr. Andrew Hartz is the Founder and President of the Open Therapy Institute. A clinical psychologist by training, he focuses on removing bias within the counseling space to improve mental health care.Carolyn Gorman serves as a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, one of the country's leading think tanks. Her work concentrates on the policy challenges and potential solutions in the mental health sector.

This episode of Giving Ventures features a special interview with Senator James Lankford (R-OK), who provides a charitable-minded view from Capitol Hill. As one of the few U.S. Senators with extensive experience running a nonprofit, Lankford understands the needs and challenges of the charitable community and appreciates the role public policy can play in fostering a vibrant nonprofit sector.In this conversation, Peter and Senator Lankford discuss the state of charitable giving in America, the dangers posed to donor privacy, and how a new tax bill could incentivize more philanthropy.Senator Lankford has represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate since 2015 and, prior to his Senate service, represented the 5th District of Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015. Before entering public service, the Senator led the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center in Oklahoma.

When conservatives discuss K-12 education, it can be tempting to cede public schools to their leftward drift and look to alternatives. And while Giving Ventures has featured some fantastic groups working in the school choice field, this episode is all about improving the public schools that educate 80% of our nation's school children.Giving our kids the best public education possible means engaging on the ground and at the local level, especially in our school boards. This episode features two impressive groups working to effect change at the school-board level.First, David Hoyt from School Boards for Academic Excellence describes his work equipping school board members to do their job effectively. SBAE has built an impressive network of state-based organizations and provides members with model policies, legal advice, and more.Then, Aiden Buzzetti from 1776 Project Foundation tells the story of how 1776 Project PAC was formed to help elect conservatives to local school boards before spinning out a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation to arm board members with the policy expertise and know-how they need to reverse pandemic learning loss.

It's important that our elections earn the confidence of American voters. In recent years fraud allegations, lawsuits, and elections rules changes have cast doubt on the integrity of our elections. Thankfully, groups like Public Interest Legal Foundation and the Foundation for Government Accountability are working hard to ensure elections are administered fairly.In this episode of Giving Ventures, Peter checks in with J. Christian Adams of PILF and Madeline Malisa of FGA for a post-election breakdown. Together, Christian and Madeline address issues like mandatory voter identification, ranked-choice voting, and the importance of holding elections for one day only rather than letting ballots trickle in for weeks after Election Day.J. Christian Adams is president and general counsel for Public Interest Legal Foundation. He also serves as commissioner of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity and previously served in the Voting Section at the United States Department of Justice.Madeline Malisa is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability, where she is a policy and legal expert on election and initiative integrity. Prior to joining FGA, she served as chief counsel to Governor Paul LePage in the State of Maine.