The Bradley Center for Philanthropy & Civic Renewal

The Bradley Center aims to encourage foundations and charitable donors to direct more resources toward support of small, local, often faith-based grassroots associations that are the heart of a vital civil society. In its research, writing, and monthly seminars, the center critically examines the current giving practices of American foundations, which tend to be directed toward large, expert driven projects that often undercut, rather than support, small civic associations. It aims to provoke conversation about the most important—and seldom discussed—issues before the nonprofit sector. It also provides practical advice and counsel to funders who are interested in designing grant-making programs that support civic renewal.

Recent Praise of the Bradley Center

Hudson's Bradley Center is the only place in which more light than heat gets generated on subjects that truly matter to the future of our field.

- Joel Orosz, Kellogg Foundation advisor

I am glad to be given the opportunity to come and talk here at the Bradley Center. This is my third or fourth panel over the years and one of the reasons that, when Bill asked if we would support the series a year or two ago, I was delighted to be able to do it is because I think that the Bradley Center is one of the very few places in philanthropy, on the right or the left, where there is a genuine debate and discussion that is ideologically diverse, and where people actually kick around in serious ways important societal questions and questions about philanthropy. So that is rare enough. And it seems to me that it deserves support when it happens, so I’m grateful both for the existence of the Bradley Center and the work of Bill and Kristen, and also for the opportunity to come and talk here today.

- Gara LaMarche, former president of The Atlantic Philanthropies

One thing is certain: Under Schambra’s direction, the Bradley Center at the Hudson Institute has been, more than any other philanthropic institution I know, a place where the Left has constructively met the Right, and where reasoned debate has effectively replaced the Frankenthinking endemic to the nonprofit field. Schambra has eloquently championed a style of philanthropy—at one time closely associated with conservative donors—that focuses on providing general operating support, with a minimum of bureaucratic fuss, to organizations and efforts led by visionary individuals. He’s been an ardent critic of philanthropy’s unreflective use of metrics and other devices borrowed from the business world. And while I haven’t always agreed with Schambra, I’ve always benefitted from his invitation to step outside the liberal echo chamber of mainstream philanthropy.

- Albert Ruegsa, President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation

I want to thank Bill for the invitation to come here and to express my admiration for what you and the Bradley Center have been doing. This is the most open and best forum on philanthropy I know about and we are all grateful to you for doing this.

- Dr. Stanley Katz, Professor of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University

Online Offerings

- Center Director Bill Schambra's essays, opinion pieces, and prepared remarks (click here).

- Audio and video recordings as well as complete transcripts of the center's monthly discussions (2004-present, view clickable event list)

- Information, commissioned readings, recordings, and transcripts from our annual Bradley Symposia (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011)

- Bradley Center podcasts are available by clicking here

- Monographs and white papers:

       Great Philanthropic Mistakes - 2nd edition by Martin Morse Wooster (2010)
       The Problem of Doing Good: Irving Kristol's Philanthropy (2010)
       The Robertson v. Princeton Case: Too Important to Be Left to the Lawyers by Neal Freeman (2009)
       Great Philanthropic Mistakes by Martin Morse Wooster (2006, out of print)
       American Philanthropy After September 11th: A Primer and Donor's Guide by Hillel Fradkin (2005)
       Trouble in Foundationland: Looking Back, Looking Ahead by Peter Frumkin (2004)

- Click here to sign up for Bradley Center invitations and announcements.

History

The Bradley Center was founded in January 2003 and is directed by William A. Schambra, who has written extensively on the theory and practice of civic revitalization.

The Bradley Center takes part of its name from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, its principal donor and a prominent funder of public policy research supporting free enterprise, traditional values, and a strong national defense. The center draws the other part of its name as well as aspects of its mission from the work of the National Commission on Philanthropy and Civic Renewal (1996-1997).

The National Commission concluded in June 1997 with the publication of a groundbreaking report entitled "Giving Better, Giving Smarter." In May 2003, for its first public event, the Bradley Center hosted several Commission members to revisit the conclusions put forward in the report. The Bradley Center invites you to have a look at both Giving Better, Giving Smarter and the transcript to the May 2003 event, "Giving Better, Giving Smarter, Six Years Later," for background information on our mission and work.

There is currently no mission statement

The Bradley Center for Philanthropy & Civic Renewal Staff

McIntyre, Kristen - Assistant Director, Bradley Center
Schambra, William A. - Director, Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal; Senior Fellow

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The Bradley Center for Philanthropy & Civic Renewal

The Bradley Center for Philanthropy & Civic Renewal Staff