Control

An insider’s view exposing the most urgent issue in US philanthropy—and how to address it

In Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short, social impact expert, nonprofit leader, and sitting Stupski Foundation CEO Glen Galaich delivers his personal conversion story from being a believer in strong donor power to understanding how it limits and derails social change. Control offers an incisive and compelling critique of the United States philanthropic system and culture where, Galaich argues, the core problem is excessive donor control. Galaich demonstrates that ultra-wealthy donors exercise an outsized degree of control in our social sector and a false sense of ownership over charitable funds that no longer belong to them.

Galaich explains why the influence of major donors extends long after a financial gift has legally and ethically stopped being the donor’s money. He also discusses how philanthropic and legal systems have unintentionally put the big donor at the center of everything that private foundations and donor-advised funds prioritize and do, instead of the communities these institutions exist to serve.

Inside the book:

A convincing argument revealing how donor control upends American foundation philanthropy, its impact, and what we should do about it
A mirror held up to the behaviors, myths, accepted practices, and “fake rules” that impede philanthropic progress in the areas where it’s most urgently needed
A rare peek into the inner workings of private foundations, showing what happens and how grantmaking decisions are made behind the closed doors of these secretive institutions

An uncompromising and principled look at a massive and influential industry, Control identifies foundational problems with big-donor philanthropy in the US and offers the first steps toward a comprehensive solution. Informed by Galaich’s own experiences and extensive off- and on-the-record interviews with other foundation CEOs and major donors, it’s a must-read for nonprofit professionals and stakeholders, donors, foundation staff, financial advisors, policymakers, and anyone interested in charity and social change.