25
March 2013
Past Event
Is Philanthropy Killing Itself with Kindness?

Is Philanthropy Killing Itself with Kindness?

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
March 25, 2013
Default Event Image
25
March 2013
Past Event

1015 15th Street, N.W., 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Speakers:
Caroline Preston

Author, Senior Reporter at The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Albert Ruesga

President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation

Vignetta Eugenia Charles

Vice President of AIDS United

Cynthia Gibson

Consultant for Nonprofits and Foundations

William Schambra

Senior Fellow; Director, Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal

"The culture of overweening politeness in American philanthropy is leading to our ruin," maintains Albert Ruesga, president of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. "It keeps me from telling you, in the clearest possible terms, that your five-year, $2-million initiative to end homelessness is well-intentioned magical thinking at best and boneheaded ignorance at worst."

"It's hard to be a critic in this sector," according to philanthropy consultant Cynthia Gibson. "We've been too nice to each other for too long," adds Vignetta Charles of AIDS United.

Chronicle of Philanthropy reporter Caroline Preston elicited these reactions for her recent article posing the question, 'Is Philanthropy Killing Itself with Kindness?'

We continued the conversation these four began with our panel discussion on March 25, which took its bearing from Preston's article.

Required Reading
Caroline Preston, Some Nonprofit Leaders Ask: Is Philanthropy Killing Itself With Kindness? Chronicle of Philanthropy, February 24, 2013.

Related Events
07
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Understanding China’s Political and Institutional Foundations: A Conversation with Chenggang Xu
Featured Speakers:
Professor Chenggang Xu
Getty Images
07
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Understanding China’s Political and Institutional Foundations: A Conversation with Chenggang Xu

Join Dr. Miles Yu, senior fellow and director of Hudson’s China Center, for a conversation with Professor Xu on why misunderstanding China’s political order may create critical strategic risks for the US amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Professor Chenggang Xu
08
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Relearning Great Power Diplomacy: A Conversation with Wess Mitchell
Featured Speakers:
Wess Mitchell
A detail photo of “A Peace Conference at the Quai d'Orsay” by William Orpen. (Wikimedia Commons)
08
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Relearning Great Power Diplomacy: A Conversation with Wess Mitchell

Join Hudson’s Peter Rough for a discussion with Wess Mitchell on the future of great power diplomacy.

A detail photo of “A Peace Conference at the Quai d'Orsay” by William Orpen. (Wikimedia Commons)
Featured Speakers:
Wess Mitchell
09
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Promoting Freedom in North Korea Makes America Safer and Stronger
Featured Speakers:
Representative Young Kim (R-CA)
Greg Scarlatoiu
Sean Chung
Rose Jang
Hannah Oh
Moderator:
Getty Images
09
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Promoting Freedom in North Korea Makes America Safer and Stronger

Join Hudson Institute for a discussion on the connection between human rights in North Korea and US national security.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Representative Young Kim (R-CA)
Greg Scarlatoiu
Sean Chung
Rose Jang
Hannah Oh
Moderator:
09
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The View from Bucharest with Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu
Featured Speakers:
H.E. Oana-Silvia Țoiu
Getty Images
09
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The View from Bucharest with Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu

With Peter Rough, Foreign Minister Țoiu will discuss Black Sea security, the war in Ukraine, Russia’s hybrid attacks, and Romania-US relations.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
H.E. Oana-Silvia Țoiu