Writings by Randall

Americans trust nonprofits far more than they trust philanthropy, but what explains that surprising gap? Perhaps people see nonprofits as familiar organizations doing meaningful work while associating philanthropy with wealthy donors, powerful foundations, and decisions made far from everyday life. If so, our profession may have a perception problem as much as a trust problem. Before we worry about rebuilding trust, we should ask a more fundamental question: Do people distrust philanthropy itself, or have we allowed the word to mean something very different from the generosity it represents?