The afternoon’s keynote speaker was Aaron Dorfman, president and CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a research and advocacy organization that works to ensure the country’s grant-makers and wealthy donors are responsive to the needs of those with the least wealth, opportunity and power.
Dorfman told the News he was honored to be asked to speak at the conference and that he hoped the event would touch the hearts and minds of those in attendance. He added that good intentions are necessary but not sufficient for good philanthropy and that donors, who may be blinded by their privilege, ought to listen more to the communities affected by the problems they are trying to solve. He also called for people to donate toward all kinds of nonprofit organizations, not just universities.
“There are incredible nonprofit organizations working on important issues that are starved for cash, while many university endowments are flush,” Dorfman said. “I’d also like to see universities, Yale included, take a look at their investments. Yale is invested in some hedge funds that are doing more harm than good in the world. It runs counter to the school’s values.”
Read the entire article in Yale Daily News.
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