The Freedom to Give: Philanthropy, Civil Society, and the Limits of State Power

The Freedom to Give: Philanthropy, Civil Society, and the Limits of State Power

Author: Cato Institute May 15, 2026 Duration: 1:00:03

A free, open, and civil society depends on the freedom of individuals and institutions to direct private resources toward the causes they value. Today, that freedom faces growing pressure as the federal government seeks to use nonprofit status as a lever of political control. 


Join us for a conversation with President and CEO of DonorsTrust Lawson Bader, Cato Senior Fellow Walter Olson, and President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation John Palfrey on the importance of philanthropic freedom and what’s at stake when the state asserts authority over private giving.


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