"Philanthropy and charitable giving are central to American life and have been since the beginning of the republic," says Adam Meyerson in an interview in the March 2010 issue of Reason. But, he adds, philanthropic freedom is under pressure from a variety of sources. These include threats from politicians to enact harmful legislation if their pet causes are not funded, efforts to mandate narrow notions of "diversity" in governance and grantmaking, attempts to limit entrepreneurial and creative ways of giving, and a growing government's temptation to tap new sources of revenue.

Click here to read the full interview.

From legislation at the federal and state levels addressing the tax code and consumer finance reform to the mid-term elections, the coming year will see much policy activity affecting philanthropy. On March 16, The Philanthropy Roundtable's Alliance for Charitable Reform will host a Summit for Leaders in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with Foundations on the Hill. This summit will provide charitable sector leaders with  an opportunity to learn about the 2010 political landscape and to hear from experts about how to use public policy effectively to advance core values of philanthropy.

Click here for registration information.