Is It Curtains for Donor Privacy?
Snoopers never rest. So even though the United States Supreme Court issued a clear ruling last year upholding the First Amendment right to donor privacy — while at the same time striking a blow for the related right to voluntary association — the plottings and stratagems of the plenty-more-than-curious (“nosy nefarious” might describe them better) to find out exactly who gave how much to what nonprofit continue.
Even a High Court “MYOB” means little to them.
For many others — especially those Givers, Doers, and Thinkers who appreciate the First Amendment straight up and full bore — the concern for donor privacy is quite real and worthy of regular attention. That is why the Center for Civil Society is scheduling an important webinar on Tuesday, May 3rd, to discuss the question of “Just How Important Is Donor Privacy?”
We can answer that right now: plenty. But a deep dive into why donor privacy matters and what risks it faces in a politically charged America where respect for free speech is rapidly diminishing, is what we are after — and dive we shall!
Yours Truly will moderate the one-hour conversation (3:00–4:00 p.m., Eastern, via Zoom) with three people holding excellent credentials in the various aspects of donor-privacy: John Bursch, the accomplished attorney who helped lead the fight before the High Court (he quarterbacked Thomas More Law Center v. Bonta, the twin case to the Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta ruling which upheld donor-privacy rights); Patrice Onwuka, director of the Center for Economic Opportunity at the Independent Women’s Forum (she has written copiously about the issue); and American Enterprise Institute fellow Howard Husock, the highly respected philanthropy scholar who knows much about the whereabouts and whatabouts of politicized “dark money” hunters.
The webinar may be free—and it will be—but the wisdom to be dispensed will be priceless.
What are you waiting for? Sign up right now, right here.
I look forward to seeing you on May 3rd as we answer the vital question, “Just How Important Is Donor Privacy?”
Jack Fowler is director of the Center for Civil Society at American Philanthropic.
