More on Gates (Gatesgate?)

A few more observations on the Gates (Gatesgate?).

1. Lucy Bernholz’ comments yesterday were very helpful. We need more people/groups to hold foundations feet to the fire for bad behavior and celebrate the good. This isn’t your grandma’s philanthropic sector. There is a lot at stake here and we need to find collective vehicles, ways, people to ensure that communities are well served and strengthened through grantmaking.

2. I am NOT suggesting that Gates has to become active shareholders. They can avoid the worse polluters, price gougers altogether and still make money.

3. Again, NOT suggesting legislation is required here, more like common sense and collective responsibility for ensuring that the rhetoric of foundations matches their actions.

PS I went to look up Gates 990 tax returns on Guidestar for find the last one is from 2002. I pinged them to ask about it and their answer was that they put up what the IRS sends them. Is it too much to ask that the worlds largest foundation’s tax returns are, say, at least 1 or 2 years old, not 5 years old!

Thursday, January 18, 2007