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.

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, and 2008)

- Monographs and white papers:

      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

Schambra, William A. - Director, Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal; Senior Fellow
Shaffer, Krista - Research Fellow

Hudson Institute, Inc. 1015 15th Street, N.W. 6th Floor Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202.974.2400 Fax: 202.974.2410 Email the Webmaster