Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs

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The Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs, better known as the Filer Commission, [1] was formed in 1973 to study philanthropy, the role of the private sector in American society, and then to recommend measures to increase voluntary giving. Organized as a privately supported citizen's board, the Commission came into being through the efforts of John D. Rockefeller III, Wilbur D. Mills, George P. Shultz, and William E. Simon. The selection of participants on the Commission reflected a desire for diversity of experience and opinions and included heads of religious and labor groups, former cabinet secretaries, corporate and Foreign Securities Corporation and President of Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Contents

  1. Edwin D. Etherington, Former President of Wesleyan University and Trustee of Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
  2. Bayard Ewing, Tillinghast, Collins and Graham and Vice Chairman of United Way of America.
  3. Frances Tarlton Farenthold, Past Chairperson of National Women's Political Caucus.
  4. Max M. Fisher, Chairman of United Brands Company and Honorary Chairman of United Foundations.
  5. Reverend Raymond J. Gallagher, Bishop of Lafayette-in-Indiana.
  6. Earl G. Graves, Publisher of Black Enterprise and Commissioner of Boy Scouts of America.
  7. Paul R. Haas, President and Chairman of Corpus Christi Oil and Gas Company and Trustee of Paul and Mary Haas Foundation.
  8. Walter A. Haas Jr., Chairman of Levi Strauss and Company and Trustee of the Ford Foundation.
  9. Philip M. Klutznick, Klutznick Investments and Chairman of Research and Policy Committee and Trustee of Committee for Economic Development.
  10. Ralph Lazarus, Chairman of Federated Department Stores, Inc. and Former National Chairman of United Way of America.
  11. Herbert E. Longenecker, President Emeritus of Tulane University and Director of United Student Aid Funds.
  12. Elizabeth J. McCormack, Special Assistant to the President of Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Inc.
  13. Walter J. McNerney, President of Blue Cross Association.
  14. William H. Morton, Trustee of Dartmouth College.
  15. John M. Musser, President and Director of General Service Foundation.
  16. Jon O. Newman, Judge, U.S. District Court and Chairman of Hartford Institute of Criminal and Social Justice.
  17. Graciela Olivarez, State Planning Officer and Director of Council on Foundations, Inc.
  18. Alan Pifer, President of Carnegie Corporation of New York.
  19. George Romney, Chairman of the National Center for Voluntary Action.
  20. William Matson Roth, Regent of University of California and Chairman of San Francisco Museum of Art.
  21. Althea T. L. Simmons, Director for Education Programs of the NAACP Special Contribution Fund.
  22. Reverend Leon H. Sullivan, Pastor of Zion Baptist Church, Philadelphia.
  23. David B. Truman, President of Mount Holyoke College.

Findings

The Commission sought to gain knowledge about philanthropy and the motivations for giving in a variety of ways. An advisory panel of more than 100 specialists in the disciplines of economics, sociology, and law, together with advocates from the non-profit sector, directed the Commission's research focus. In the span of two years, the Commission directed more than 86 research projects concerning philanthropy and the role of the private nonprofit sector in the United States. These studies were crucial to the discussion and debate which took place during the Commission meetings that would later lead to the formation of policy recommendations. Conducted in specific areas such as arts and culture, health, education, taxation and regulation, foreign practices, and foundations in general, the studies provided the background information necessary to make sound decisions about the role of philanthropy in both the public and private sectors. The Commission dealt with the difficult political, social, and economic issues confronting the sector during the early 1970s, particularly its fiscal problems and the growing political opposition to charitable tax deductions.

After two years of holding meeting sessions and conducting research projects, the Commission issued its findings in its final report, Giving in America: Toward a Stronger Voluntary Sector, and closed its work in 1975. The Commission focused public attention on the sector and spurred academic inquiry into the field of philanthropy, charting the course of research for the following two decades. Its work was the first major investigation of the third sector and the most comprehensive examination of philanthropy to date. From its recommendations, the Independent Sector coalition was formed and emerged as one of the nation's most powerful advocates of non-profit organizations. After the publication of the final report, the Commission had completed its task. The Commission officially disbanded after the report's publication in 1975.

The findings of the Commission were:

The Commission offered several recommendations to the public, foundations, and the government. It recommended:

The above Findings and Recommendations were taken from the finding aid for the Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs, 1964-1980, at Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, IUPUI University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. [2]

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References

  1. ↑ Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs. Giving in America: Toward a Stronger Voluntary Sector. Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs: 1975.
  2. ↑ "Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs Records (Filer Commission), 1964-1980 Finding Aid".
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