I and many others have been calling on foundations to increase spending from whatever was budgeted for 2020 in light of the crises we face. Some have argued that this risks the long-term -- the ability of foundations to be there for grantees in 20 years or 40 years or 100 years.

Putting aside the fact that the real purchasing power of foundations has often increased, not just been maintained, over time ... and putting aside that an increase doesn't have to remotely jeopardize the foundation's ability to be there in the future ...

And putting aside that all I have called for is an increase at some meaningful level given a particular foundation's context and goals, not for foundations to spend themselves out of existence.

And putting aside the fact that if our country survives there will be new wealth creation & new foundations & so if some large foundation that wd have had $6 billion in assets in 2035 has $4.8 billion because it stepped up spend in 2020 it won't spell disaster for np sector ...

Putting aside all that, what about this? Our democracy hangs in the balance. Can we talk about how that affects the calculus in this moment?

The very structures & systems that have allowed our economy 2 grow are jeopardized. Doesn't it make sense for considerations re future need to be balanced v differently? Doesn't it make sense 4 unique asset of endowed foundations--their endowments--2 be thought of differently...

when the future of the country as a democracy is quite literally in jeopardy? When a president is actively and openly seeking to undermine democratic processes and won't even commit to abiding by the results of an election?

Those are some questions I have for foundation board members at foundations hewing to conventional practice re payout in a most unconventional time. That's all. Call me. Message me. Let me talk with you about this. Please. And thank you.