In an era where federal overreach seems to be the norm, the concept of federalism stands as a beacon of hope for many seeking a return to localized power and decision-making. In this episode, Tony Woodlief of the State Policy Network's Center for Practical Federalism shares insights into how states can reclaim their autonomy from an ever-expanding federal government. This episode goes beyond American civics and history, diving deep into the practical tools and strategies available to state and local officials aiming to push back against federal encroachment and restore the balance of power envisioned by the framers of the Constitution. Tony Woodlief is a Senior Fellow at the State Policy Network's Center for Practical Federalism and author of I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance. His work focuses on empowering state and local governments to reclaim authority and push back against federal overreach.

California has long been a trendsetter...but not always for the right reasons. Known for its innovative spirit and sun-soaked coastline, the state grapples with a multitude of policy challenges, from housing costs to environmental regulations. California's decisions often ripple across the nation, influencing policies from coast to coast. This episode features interviews with leaders from two influential think tanks—Pacific Research Institute and California Policy Center—about their efforts to counteract detrimental policies and promote free-market solutions in the Golden State. These organizations are not only tackling local issues but are also providing a blueprint for other states to avoid California's pitfalls. Sally Pipes is the longtime president of the Pacific Research Institute, a healthcare expert, and author of several books. Rowena Itchon serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the Pacific Research Institute. Will Swaim is the president of the California Policy Center.

In recent years, the landscape of free speech on college campuses has become a battleground, with incidents of censorship and cancel culture making headlines. Yet, out of this challenge, a new wave of hope is rising—one led by passionate alumni who are taking action to restore open discourse. This episode features three leaders from organizations working tirelessly to promote free speech: Charles Mitchell from the Open Discourse Coalition, Todd Rulon-Miller from Princetonians for Free Speech, and Peter Bonilla from the MIT Free Speech Alliance. Each brings a unique perspective and strategy to this shared mission, showcasing how alumni can be pivotal in reshaping the academic environment.

Affordable housing is a persistent challenge in American politics. Bad public policy leads to artificial housing supply restrictions which causes prices to rise. But stimulating housing supply to bring costs down is a thorny issue. The latest episode of Giving Ventures brings together Sonja Trauss from Yes in My Backyard and Charles Gardner from the Mercatus Center to explore how grassroots advocacy and deregulation can make housing more abundant and more affordable. Sonja is the Founder and Executive Director of Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY), a grassroots organization that aims to address the housing shortage by advocating for policies that promote affordable housing. Charles is a Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center, where he explores housing policy, zoning, and land use. He brings a legal background and experience as an elected official in Connecticut to his work on housing policy.

From the challenges posed by technology use to political biases creeping into the therapist's office, America is experiencing something of a mental health crisis. To help address this critical issue, the Philanthropy Roundtable recently compiled a Mental Health Playbook that provides philanthropists with an introduction to the most effective organizations working to solve this crisis while remaining faithful to the principles of liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility. As the Roundtable explained in a recent article, private philanthropy is "essential to confronting our nation’s mental health crisis" because "it’s flexible and nimble, allowing the most effective, unique approaches to emerge." To learn more about the Playbook and to get a look at two of the organizations it highlights, Peter assembled a panel for this episode of Giving Ventures. Esther Larson is the Senior Director of Programs at the Philanthropy Roundtable. She spearheaded the creation of the Mental Health Playbook, a resource designed to guide donors through the complex landscape of mental health funding. Dr. Andrew Hartz is the Founder and President of the Open Therapy Institute. A clinical psychologist by training, he focuses on removing bias within the counseling space to improve mental health care. Carolyn Gorman serves as a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, one of the country's leading think tanks. Her work concentrates on the policy challenges and potential solutions in the mental health sector.

This episode of Giving Ventures features a special interview with Senator James Lankford (R-OK), who provides a charitable-minded view from Capitol Hill. As one of the few U.S. Senators with extensive experience running a nonprofit, Lankford understands the needs and challenges of the charitable community and appreciates the role public policy can play in fostering a vibrant nonprofit sector. In this conversation, Peter and Senator Lankford discuss the state of charitable giving in America, the dangers posed to donor privacy, and how a new tax bill could incentivize more philanthropy. Senator Lankford has represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate since 2015 and, prior to his Senate service, represented the 5th District of Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015. Before entering public service, the Senator led the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center in Oklahoma.

When conservatives discuss K-12 education, it can be tempting to cede public schools to their leftward drift and look to alternatives. And while Giving Ventures has featured some fantastic groups working in the school choice field, this episode is all about improving the public schools that educate 80% of our nation's school children. Giving our kids the best public education possible means engaging on the ground and at the local level, especially in our school boards. This episode features two impressive groups working to effect change at the school-board level. First, David Hoyt from School Boards for Academic Excellence describes his work equipping school board members to do their job effectively. SBAE has built an impressive network of state-based organizations and provides members with model policies, legal advice, and more. Then, Aiden Buzzetti from 1776 Project Foundation tells the story of how 1776 Project PAC was formed to help elect conservatives to local school boards before spinning out a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation to arm board members with the policy expertise and know-how they need to reverse pandemic learning loss.

It's important that our elections earn the confidence of American voters. In recent years fraud allegations, lawsuits, and elections rules changes have cast doubt on the integrity of our elections. Thankfully, groups like Public Interest Legal Foundation and the Foundation for Government Accountability are working hard to ensure elections are administered fairly. In this episode of Giving Ventures, Peter checks in with J. Christian Adams of PILF and Madeline Malisa of FGA for a post-election breakdown. Together, Christian and Madeline address issues like mandatory voter identification, ranked-choice voting, and the importance of holding elections for one day only rather than letting ballots trickle in for weeks after Election Day. J. Christian Adams is president and general counsel for Public Interest Legal Foundation. He also serves as commissioner of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity and previously served in the Voting Section at the United States Department of Justice. Madeline Malisa is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability, where she is a policy and legal expert on election and initiative integrity. Prior to joining FGA, she served as chief counsel to Governor Paul LePage in the State of Maine.

This episode of Giving Ventures is a rerun of an evergreen conversation between Peter and author Gideon Bernstein about the upside of giving. Learn how the tragedy of Gideon's son's murder changed the way he views the world and his philanthropy. You won't want to miss this poignant conversation, especially if you need a fresh outlook and roadmap for your giving.

With the 2017 tax cuts about to expire and major leadership changes in the executive and legislative branches coming in January, now is a critical time for the future of philanthropy. Reforms to the tax code and IRS regulations about charitable giving will affect not only your tax bill and deductions but also the future of donor privacy, donor intent protection, and key considerations for estate planning. To think ahead about what's in store for conservative and libertarian charitable givers, DonorsTrust recently held a webinar conversation with three experts to explore coming policy changes. This episode of Giving Ventures brings that discussion to you. In the episode we hear from: Stephen Moore, an economist and advisor to President Trump. Steve was a key voice behind the scenes when Republican lawmakers drafted the 2017 Trump tax cuts and offers an inside look into what is likely to come in the second Trump administration.  Christie Herrera, President and CEO of Philanthropy Roundtable, the nation’s leading network for conservative givers. Christie's work gives her a close-up view to the myriad proposals in Congress and the IRS that would significantly alter philanthropic giving.  Michael Whitty, a seasoned expert in estate tax law and planning and partner at Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP in Chicago. Michael gives a view to the estate planning tools we can use as we consider possible changes to the tax code.

This Election Day, Giving Ventures brings you interviews with three groups working to expand the coalition of limited government, pro-liberty Americans by engaging independents who aren't already among the free-market fold. Scott Rasmussen is the founder of the Napolitan Institute, which was formed to deliver accurate, unbiased polling of the American people. Adam Brandon's work with the Independent Center advances the common-sense center of American politics and advocates for Americans who believe in genuine compromise. Christian Robey, president of Our America, which was established to unite a broad and diverse coalition of Americans around a shared sense of patriotism and advance principles like criminal justice reform, freedom of thought, and voter integrity.

Earlier this month, DonorsTrust partnered with the Goldwater Institute and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club for a special event in Phoenix, Arizona. At the event, Peter was joined by DonorsTrust philanthropic advisor Lukas Dwelly and Yellowstone Trust Administration executive vice president Randy Huston for a discussion about the powerful charitable tools you can employ in your planned giving. Lukas is a chartered philanthropic advisor, an accredited estate planner, and charted financial advisor. Randy is certified financial planner with expertise in charitable estate planning and has worked in the charitable trust field for nearly 40 years. In this episode, Lukas covers the basics of bequest gifts, life insurance, and leveraging the full power of your IRA. And Randy gives an excellent overview of charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts. The panel discussion will help you think more strategically about the tools available to you, including donor-advised funds.

What is America’s role in the world? It’s a hotly contested question in American politics that cuts across the left-right divide. Whereas a Reaganite policy view of a strong and robust national defensive capability coupled with American-led diplomacy around the world used to be the norm, leaders on both the left and right can now be found on either side of this issue. This episode explores three groups that go along with John Bolton's view of strong American leadership. Michael Doran, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, explains the evolution of the think tank from its origins in the Cold War to today. From a newer group, Vandenberg Coalition, Carrie Filipetti delves into the organization’s mission and the way it uses its powerhouse advisory board to advance a stronger America. Finally, Alexander Hamilton Society executive director Gabriel Scheinmann emphasizes the importance of cultivating future leaders in the space through AHS’s programming.

While curmudgeonly complaining about “kids these days” is nothing new, it’s hard to deny that there’s cause for genuine concern about America’s youngest generations. The combination of radicalism and ignorance displayed in campus protests may be a variation on an old theme in higher education, but the fragility and emotional instability of these Gen Z students is notable. And even among their younger peers the effects of pandemic learning loss and years of screen addiction are evident in the aimlessness and prevalence of mental health issues in America’s children. Underneath all of these trends are a set of ideas and attitudes toward parenting that have grown in their prevalence in recent decades. This episode features Lenore Skenazy and Andrea Keith from Let Grow, an organization dedicated to promoting childhood independence, along with John Tomasi, who leads Heterodox Academy in its mission to push back against troubling trends on campus and restore academic values like free inquiry and civil debate.

Autocracy is on the rise. There are only 34 liberal democracies – the lowest number in more than 25 years – and they are home to just 13 percent of the world population. How can we reverse that trend? Our guests today are at the vanguard of that work to reverse this decline in global freedom. First we will hear from World Liberty Congress, a newer group created and led by the very dissidents that the group aims to serve. Then, Human Rights Foundation, known for its important work highlighting the dangerous trend toward autocracy. Finally, Ideas Beyond Borders takes the fight to the Middle East region, and you'll enjoy hearing how it goes about its challenging work.

American conservatives and libertarians can get really excited about ideas but aren’t generally known for their enthusiasm about Congress. Among free marketers, “government” can almost sound like a bad word. Yet seeing the ideas of limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise put into action means engaging with the legislative process. Peter recently sat down with some of the folks doing this important work in the latest episode of Giving Ventures. First, Committee to Unleash Prosperity (CUP) co-founder Steve Moore, a Heritage Foundation scholar and former senior economist of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, outlines the importance of championing fiscal responsibility and pro-growth economic policy to elected officials. Next, Paul Winfree, a three-time Heritage alumnus with experience as an economist in the White House and U.S. Senate, tells Peter about his work as president of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). Rounding out the lineup, Senator Jim DeMint, who has himself served as a legislator in both houses of the U.S. Congress and previously led the Heritage Foundation, shares about the powerhouse organization he founded in 2017, the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI).

Stories have incredible power to shape us. From the bedtime tales we tell our children to the latest installments of multi-billion-dollar film franchises, compelling characters and skillful storytelling grab our attention like nothing else. On the most recent episode of Giving Ventures, Peter is joined by guests from a trio of groups whose visual storytelling is capturing audiences with the message of freedom. First, Nick Reid and Lana Link from the Moving Picture Institute describe how their incubator and workshop programs cultivate the talents of young creatives with stories about human freedom. Then, Free the People president Matt Kibbe considers the power of video content to reach America’s young and “liberty curious.” Finally, Jim Tusty of Sky Films draws on his extensive career to explain how compelling documentaries can persuade without telling the audience what to think.

How do you know if an organization you support is really effective? What are the metrics you as a donor should be looking for? And are they hard metrics like numbers of policy wins, softer metrics like the amount of press coverage, or really amorphous metrics like a feeling that the organization is going in the right direction? Today, we talk with Leah Kral of the Mercatus Center about how donors should consider effectiveness of organizations they support. We also explore how we can go beyond looking at metrics to actually helping inspire groups we care for to innovate and grow.

Perhaps you've followed the controversy about the most recent set of proposed changes to Title IX, the rules that define equality based on sex in education. The changes were originally offered in June of 2022, but it wasn't until April of this year that the final proposed changes came out. Colleges were given until August 1 of this year to comply, so this topic certainly has some urgency to it. Today on Giving Ventures, we're going to dive into those proposals to understand what they are, why so many conservatives (but not just conservatives) take issue with the revisions, and what various nonprofit groups are doing to challenge the legality of these changes in court.

With just 27 words, the 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights secures gun rights for millions of Americans—at least in theory. In practice, the text of the Second Amendment has been subject to legal, political, and cultural controversies, and Americans’ gun rights are not always respected. In this episode of Giving Ventures, we hear from two of the most accomplished organizations in the gun rights space: Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition’s FPC Action Foundation.

Today, we're digging into the media landscape and talking to three groups helping people to make sense of the narratives that are out there as well as challenge those narratives when they stray from the truth. First up is our watch dog, the Media Research Center. Then we'll hear from a group that has become a watchdog with teeth, Accuracy in Media. We'll round things out digging into investigative journalism from a more free-market perspective with Real Clear Foundation. It's easy to be despondent about the state of media. These three groups will help you lift your chin a little higher and see that all is not lost.

Ever since the terror attacks in Israel on Oct. 7 of last year, we have seen an increased focus on giving to causes related to Israel and Jewish life. Investor and venture philanthropist Adam Milstein joins us to offer his insights on how donors might think of challenging anti-Semitism, supporting Jewish culture, and the relationship between all of this to our own challenges in America.

Donor-advised funds are a powerful charitable vehicle, and one that has grown rapidly in the past decade. However, just because the use of DAFs has grown doesn't mean everyone fully grasps the value and power that a fund can offer. Even less, there are lots of questions around what the role of the provider of DAFs can offer both to donors but also to the nonprofits who receive grants from those providers on behalf of its donors. In this episode, we explore the ins-and-outs of donor-advised funds.

In this interview with James Whitford, we explore a better way to do human-services charity. The word "charity" often leads people to think of the human-suffering side of giving, or rather efforts aimed to alleviate human suffering. Think homeless shelters, food banks, church-run thrift stores, and after-school programs in tough neighborhoods. All of these places have a role to play, but are they enough? Many listeners likely agree it's not. On the very first episode of Giving Ventures explored free-market approaches to alleviated poverty. We talked with groups trying to help individuals get over the welfare cliff and reclaim their dignity through work. Today, we'll expand on that theme and explore a concept called True Charity. The True Charity idea challenges the notion that kindness and giveaways to the poor are enough, and argues that true compassion comes by helping individuals in dire straights find a path toward self sufficiency and dignity. True Charity is both an idea and the name of an organization started by James Whitford. James originally founded Watered Gardens Ministry with his wife in Joplin, MO, which did many of those human-suffering alleviating things we mentioned at the start, but came to realize that wasn't enough and now is an evangelist for other human service organizations across the country to rethink how they do charity.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Darla Romfo, president and CEO of Children's Scholarship Fund; Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships; and Carol Liebau, president of Yankee Institute. The guests share what their nonprofits are doing to ensure every child gets a quality education no matter where they live. Tune in for this and more on the latest episode of Giving Ventures.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Lawson Bader, president and CEO of DonorsTrust, and Christie Herrera, president and CEO of PhilanthropyRoundtable. The two guests share insights and trends in philanthropy and discuss regulatory and legislative threats that, if approved, would chill giving. Tune in for this and more on the latest episode of Giving Ventures.

On the latest episode of the Giving Ventures podcast, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Rod Richardson, co-chair of the Climate & Freedom International Coalition and president of the Grace Richardson Foundation; Lord Daniel Hannan, former member of European Parliament, founding president of the Institute for Free Trade and a peer in the House of Lords; and Diego Sánchez de la Cruz, research coordinator at Instituto Juan de Mariana in Madrid. The three discuss ways free markets throughout the world can hasten the adoption of clean-energy alternatives.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Hans Zeiger, president of the Jack Miller Center. Zeiger shares how he's sounding the alarm on government-funded universities and what conservative charitable givers can do to promote pluralism, defend American values and develop principled academic leaders.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Norman Horn, founder and president of Libertarian Christian Institute; Nicholas Sarwark, executive director of the Libertarian Policy Foundation; and Tom DiLorenzo, president of the Mises Institute. The guests, among other things, make the Christian case for Austrian economics.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Lindsay Craig, president of National Review Institute; David McIntosh, president of Club for Growth Foundation; and Rebecca Good, managing director of outreach for American Enterprise Institute. The leaders explain what they're doing to nurture people's love and knowledge of liberty long after graduation.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Archbridge Institute President and CEO Gonzalo Schwarz and Justin Callais, research fellow at Archbridge Institute and lead author of its Social Mobility Index project. Discover how the institute is mapping out state-by-state the ability of one to improve their economic situation.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Bill Simon, co-chair of the William E. Simon Foundation; Bob Rubin, founder and president of Rubin Wealth Advisors; and Lawson Bader, president and CEO of DonorsTrurst. The charitable-giving experts talk about ways to preserve one's charitable wishes even as organizations drift away from their original mission. This and more on the latest episode of Giving Ventures.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Marcus Ruzek, senior program director at the Marcus Foundation. Ruzek shares ways givers can shrink the disconnect that exists between veterans and non-veterans as military service wanes, reviews the resources available for givers interested in helping military veterans and discusses strategies for overcoming the damaging narrative veterans are somehow “broken” because of their military service.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Adam Josefczyk, co-founder and president of Forge Leadership Network; Noah Sofio, director of alumni and careers programming at the David Network; and Yael Levin Hungerford, executive director of the Adam Smith Society, a project of Manhattan Institute. Tune in and discover the unique ways these nonprofit leaders are cultivating and connecting future free-market leaders on Main Street and Wall Street.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU, and Fred Fransen, CEO of Certell. The three talk about the need to create history and civics materials that are even-handed and rooted in historical accuracy. Tune in to discover how Streit and Fransen are preserving commonsense ideas through their educational materials.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Tal Tsfany of the Ayn Rand Institute and Jennifer Grossman of Atlas Society. The three talk about the life and philosophy of Ayn Rand, author of "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged." A libertarian icon, Rand was born under Soviet rule and saw first-hand the destructive influence of communism. Tune in to discover how Tsfany and Grossman are spreading the ideas Rand championed.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three education experts working to expand school choice. His guests include Don and Ashley Soifer, CEO and chief innovation officer, respectively, of the National Microschooling Center; Jenny Clark, founder of Love Your School; and Denisha Allen, founder of Black Minds Matter.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Nicole Hoplin, president of Hoplin Jackson Charitable Advisors and representative for the Gregor G. Peterson Prize in Venture Philanthropy. The one-time $250,000 grant is awarded annually to a trailblazing non-profit newer than five years old. Tune in to learn about the prize and its namesake, Greg Peterson, one of the first venture capitalists, a former Marine and a Stanford University alumnus, mentor and trustee.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three policy experts working to activate the grassroots. Those experts are Adam Brandon, president of FreedomWorks Foundation; Akash Chougule, vice president of Americans for Prosperity Foundation; and Tina Descovich, co-founder of Moms for Liberty Foundation.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three policy experts working to make abortion unthinkable. Those experts are Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life; Jeff Bradford, president of Human Coalition; and Ryan Hanlon, president and CEO of the National Council for Adoption.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three policy experts working to expand diversity of thought and equal opportunity for all. Those experts are Edward Blum, founder of Students for Fair Admissions; Devon Westhill, president and general counsel of the Center for Equal Opportunity; and Kenny Xu, president and primary spokesperson for Color Us United.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three policy experts working to expand worker freedom. Those experts are Aaron Withe, president and CEO of Freedom Foundation; Joseph G. Lehman, CEO of Mackinac Center; and Elisabeth Messenger, Americans for Fair Treatment.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Mark Rienzi, president and CEO of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty; Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of First Liberty; and Eric Patterson, president of Religious Freedom Institute. Listen in to hear what their groups are doing to advance religious liberty at home and abroad.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with two donors: David Thayer and Tom Beach. They share their expert insights into the markets and offer thoughts on how donors and organizations might respond to economic and political uncertainty. The episode, taken from a conversation originally aired as a webinar for nonprofit leaders, starts on a pessimistic note. David explains why we are likely in a recession and unlikely to see a great reduction in the inflationary environment. As he says, "It's already worse than it seems."

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with leaders tackling tough tech topics like artificial-intelligence programs threatening to remake industry as we know it. His guests include George Gilder, co-founder of the Discovery Institute; Zach Graves, executive director of the Foundation for American Innovation; and Chris Koopman, executive director of the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State.

Thomas Hand, a graduate of West Point and a successful businessman, joins DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett on the latest episode of Giving Ventures to talk about the unique grant program he created using DonorsTrust. The program, facilitated by DonorsTrust, awards grants to those preserving historic sites across the country — sites that tell the story of America and her founders.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Pano Kanelos, president of the University of Austin, and Stephen Blackwood, founding president of Ralston College in Savannah, Georgia. Both gentleman are working hard to offer a higher-education alternative that is more open to intellectual curiosity and openness. Listen in to hear what they have to say about their hopes for the future of higher education in America.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, DonorsTrust Vice President and host Peter Lipsett talks with three nonprofit executives working to revive and expand classical education. His guests include Robert Jackson, executive director of Great Hearts Institute; Bob Luddy, founder of Thales Academy; and Kathleen O'Toole, director of Barney Schools at Hillsdale College. Brew a cup of tea and throw your feet up as you listen to the latest episode.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Connor Boyack, founder and president of Libertas Institute and Nicole Cassier-Mason, CEO of Lemonade Day. Both guests talk about the importance of helping kids build their entrepreneurial skills, something that will serve them throughout their life and skills they likely won't learn in public school.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett moderates a conversation with featured guest Chris Cousins, an experienced financial advisor who has helped many folks navigate wealth events like the sale of a business and windfalls like inheritance. DonorsTrust President & CEO Lawson Bader and DonorsTrust Chief Financial Officer Jeff Zysik also have helpful cameos on the episode.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Marion Smith, president and CEO of the Common Sense Society; Margarita Mooney,  executive director of Scala Foundation; and Justin Shubow, president of the National Civic Art Society. All three touch on the importance of beauty and the role it plays in securing freedom.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Pacific Legal Foundation President and CEO Steven D. Anderson; New Civil Liberties Alliance President and General Counsel Mark Chenoweth; and Job Creators Network President Elaine Parker. All three detail past or present cases before the Supreme Court and what they're doing to rein in an administrative state that often acts beyond its scope during the executive rule-making process. Click here to read the show notes. Click here to read the show notes: https://www.donorstrust.org/podcast-episodes/giving-ventures-podcast-liberty-at-the-supreme-court/

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, host Peter Lipsett talks with DonorsTrust President and CEO Lawson Bader as he reflects on a year of giving marked by higher prices, recession fears and looming legislative threats and lays out a roadmap for what givers and prospective givers should look out for in the world of conservative and libertarian philanthropy in 2023.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with three experts dedicated to preserving First Amendment rights for all Americans. His guests include Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) President Greg Lukianoff; FIRE Chief Operating Officer Alisha Glennon; and FIRE Executive Vice President Nico Perrino.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with three enery-policy experts dedicated to crafting free-market regulatory reforms that make energy more affordable and accessible to everyone. His guests include Kent Lassman, president and CEO of Competitive Enterprise Institute; Steve Malloy, senior policy fellow at the Energy & Environment Legal Institute; and Tom Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with colleagues to discuss some of their favorite charities. The guests share their personal connections to the charities, why the charities are near and dear, and venture a guess at what kind of giver would likewise be interested in the charities listed during this episode. So, take the turkey out of the freezer, if you haven't already, and listen to this special Thanksgiving edition of Giving Ventures.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with three health-policy experts dedicated to crafting free-market solutions that make healthcare freer, more affordable and accessible to everyone. His guests include Brian Blase, president of Paragon Health Institute; Jonathan Wolfson, chief legal officer and policy director at the Cicero Institute; and Richard Walker, executive director of the Benjamin Rush Institute.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with Star Parker, founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education; Kendall Qualls, president of TakeCharge Foundation; and Robert Woodson, founder and president of the Woodson Center. All three debunk the left's narrative on the "state of black America" and offer ways policymakers and bureaucrats can help, not hurt, African American families.

Is your alma mater soliciting donations from you? Chances are ... they've asked you for money recently. In fact, U.S. colleges and universities raised $52.9 billion in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021, and that is a 6.9 percent increase over the previous year. While the schools make giving easy, giving effectively is much harder. In other words, is your alma mater the best place for your charitable dollars when a different college or university is doing work that better reflects your values? Emily Jae, director of the Fund for Academic Renewal at the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, joins Peter on the latest episode of Giving Ventures to discuss ways to make intentional gifts to colleges and universities that live up to our nation's founding ideals.

Peter interviews Bryant Haines of 2ndVote, which scores companies on how liberal, conservative or neutral they are on social and political issues. Also on this episode is Will Hild of Consumers' Research to discuss the social credit system that has become "ESG" standards, a problematic and flawed system that elites increasingly use to signal whether a company is worth investing in. And finally Derek Kreifels, co-founder and chief executive officer of the State Financial Officers Foundation gives a rundown on the role state officials play in the ESG tug-of-war. Listen in and circle back here soon for the show notes.

On this episode of Giving Ventures, Peter talks with author Gideon Bernstein about the upside of giving and how the tragedy of his son's murder changed the way Bernstein views the world and his philanthropy. You won't want to miss this poignant conversation, especially if you need a fresh outlook and roadmap for your giving.

On the third installment of "Inspiring Liberty on Campus," Young Americans for Liberty Executive Director Lauren Daugherty joins Peter on Giving Ventures to give an update on the organization. Born out of the "Youth for Ron Paul" movement, Young Americans for Liberty is defending the First Amendment rights of college students with a particular emphasis on pushing back against campus-free-speech zones. Why? Because all of campus should be fair game for free speech, says Daugherty. Listen to find out what else Daugherty and her team are doing to preserve the First Amendment rights of more than 1.5 million college students every year and what they did to help pass constitutional carry in Indiana.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter interviews Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA, "a national student movement dedicated to identifying, organizing, and empowering young people to promote the principles of free markets and limited government." Charlie talks about his new book, titled "The College Scam: How Colleges and Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away America's Youth," and what TPUSA chapters nationwide are doing to help students embrace liberty and freedom.

On the latest episode of Giving Ventures, Peter interviews Dr. Wolf von Laer, chief executive officer of Students for Liberty. Last year alone, says Dr. Laer, Students for Liberty-affiliated students organized nearly 2,000 events on campuses across the globe. The events included protests, townhalls and creative activities or exhibitions spearheaded by students. The common thread that ensures students walk away empowered and hopeful about the future of academic inquiry? Community, says Dr. Laer. Hear all about it on this week's episode of Giving Ventures, available wherever you get your podcasts.

UPDATE: These pro-family leaders Peter originally interviewed in October already are making big strides toward strengthening family life in America. Hit "Play" and, if you've already listened to the episode, fast forward to the end for updates on each charity. In the fourth episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talk with three great guests working to strengthen families, protect children, and nurture new respect for dads. John-Paul "J.P." DeGance, president and CEO of Communio, works with churches and communities to bolster marriage; Darcy Olsen, CEO of GenJustice, works to ensure foster children have legal representation; and John Papola, CEO of the Emergent Order Foundation, works to engage fathers and encourage them to create an impact in their community. Even if families, foster care, and fatherhood aren't important pieces of your philanthropy, you will find some interesting tidbits in here—and some great reasons to be optimistic. Editor's Note: Gen Justice announced on Oct. 11 that it's changed its name to 'The Center for the Rights of Abused Children." It says the name change is an effort at "better communicating" its mission to help America's abused and abandoned children.

On this episode of the Giving Ventures podcast, Peter interviews Ian Rowe, author of the new book "Agency: The Four Point Plan (F.R.E.E.) for ALL Children to Overcome the Victimhood Narrative and Discover Their Pathway to Power," senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute and co-founder of Vertex Partnership Academies, a world-class charter high school, the first campus of which opened its doors this year in the Bronx. This wide-ranging conversation explores Ian's experience as an education entrepreneur, what donors can learn from his time at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, non-profits that are advancing the idea of agency, and so much more.

2026 will be a big year. No, it isn't a presidential election year. Twenty-twenty-six marks the 250th birthday of our beloved United States of America. The fancy term for that is the semi-quin-centennial. The brand you will get to know it as, though, is America250. That is the name of the organization leading the planning and coordination of a national celebration for this remarkable birthday. Joseph C. Daniels, the new CEO and president of America250, joins host Peter Lipsett on the latest episode of Giving Ventures to talk about his plans for the big birthday bash.

Are free-markets dead? Not a chance. Young entrepreneurs and activists including Cindy Cerquitella of America's Future; Amanda Covo of Teneo Network; and Marissa Gaston of Washington Policy Center join host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett on the latest episode of Giving Ventures to share how they're fanning the flames of freedom in their respective communities.

What are the key ingredients to effective storytelling? IronLight Labs President Jo Jensen, Kite & Key Media CEO and Co-Founder Vanessa Mendoza; Free to Choose Network President and CEO Rob Chatfield; and The Story Incubator Owner Erin O’Connor share the "secret sauce" of solid storytelling, including who should convey your message, how to connect with your audience and how quickly you need to reel in your listeners before they tune out. These tips and more on the latest episode of the DonorsTrust Giving Ventures podcast.

In the seventeenth episode of our Giving Ventures podcast, titled “Winning in the States,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with State Policy Network President and CEO Tracie Sharp. State Policy Network is the membership organization for all the free-market, pro-liberty think tanks in the states, driving leadership development, information sharing, and a general cross-pollination of ideas critical to the success of pro-liberty principles. Tracie gives a run-down of hard-fought legislative and legal wins at the state level, including income-tax reform, union reform and, among others, protecting workers' civil liberty as it relates to the so-called "vaccine mandate."

In the sixteenth episode of our Giving Ventures podcast, titled “Free Market Environmentalism,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three nonprofit leaders working to implement changes that better steward earth's natural resources without undermining its most precious resource of all: people. His guests include Brian Yablonski, chief executive officer at the Property and Environment Research Center; Benjamin (Benji) Backer, founder and president of the American Conservation Coalition; and Drew Bond, co-founder of Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions (C3 Solutions).

In the fifteenth episode of our Giving Ventures podcast, titled “Toward Better Policing,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three nonprofit leaders working to implement reforms in our necessary but imperfect criminal justice system. His guests include Adrian Moore, vice president of policy at Reason Foundation; Robert McNamara, senior attorney at the Institute for Justice; and Gordon Cummings, president of CantWait Foundation.

In this bonus episode of the Giving Ventures podcast, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Dr. Tom G. Palmer, executive vice president for international programs at Atlas Network, about the situation in Ukraine.

In the thirteenth episode of our Giving Ventures podcast, titled “Freedom in the Press,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three nonprofit leaders carving out a voice for taxpayers and conservatives in the media world. His guests include John J. Miller, founder and executive director of the College Fix; Casey Given, executive director of Young Voices; and Christopher Krug, president and publisher of the Franklin News Foundation.

In the twelfth episode of our Giving Ventures podcast, titled “Engaging Conservative Women,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three nonprofit leaders giving voice to the issues of particular interest to women, including parental leave, workplace flexibility and women in sports, to name a few. His guests include Carrie Lukas, president of Independent Women's Forum; Stacy Blakeley, executive director of The Policy Circle; and Karin Lips, president of the Network for Enlightened Women.

In the eleventh episode of our Giving Ventures podcast, titled “Freer Cities,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with three nonprofit leaders working to create a more vibrant, prosperous cities throughout the country. His guests include Greg Brooks of Better Cities, Andre Cushing of the American Legislative Exchange Council and John Mozena of the Center for Economic Accountability.

In the tenth episode of our Giving Ventures podcast, titled “Young Givers Make a Difference,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with spokespeople from three organizations nominated to win the Novus Society’s annual Holiday Giving Match: Alliance Defending Freedom, Instituto de Libertad Económica para Puerto Rico, and mikeroweWORKS Foundation.

In the ninth episode of our Giving Ventures podcast, titled “Leveling Up Our Civics Education, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with Jeremiah Lorrig, deputy director of Generation Joshua; actress Janine Turner, founder and co-president of Constituting America; and Jonathan Greenberg of the Jack Miller Family Foundation, who runs point on a three-group effort called the American Civics and History Initiative, about what they are doing, respectively, to create engaged citizens.

In the latest Giving Ventures episode, titled "Giving in 2022," our fearless leader Lawson Bader talks with host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett about the history of philanthropy over the last couple years; trends we're seeing now; and what to expect in 2022, including challenges and hopefully triumphs for conservative philanthropy in the years ahead.

In the latest episode of Giving Ventures, titled “Bridging Divides,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with John Wood, national spokesperson for Braver Angels; Andrew Hanauer, president and CEO of One America Movement; and Jacquie Merrill, director of the Campus Free Expression Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Our guests share what they're doing to spur civil discourse, encourage bicameral cooperation and generally encourage Americans to embrace the angel on their shoulder instead of the alternative.

In the latest episode of Giving Ventures, titled “Old-Guard Future Builders,” host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks with former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, president of Young America's Foundation; Zilvinas Silenas, president of the Foundation for Economic Education; Johnny Burtka, president of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute; and Roger Ream, president of the Fund for American Studies. Our guests share what liberty-loving nonprofits are doing to engage new audiences and pass on the principles of freedom to younger generations.

Charitable givers on the political left are celebrated by those in the mainstream media. Charitable givers on the political right, however, are rebuked and accused of being part of a "dark money” conglomerate. There are people, though, working to set the record straight and share the positive things happening in conservative philanthropy—stories that aren’t splashed on the front-page of the New York Times, even when these stories deserve prominent above-the-fold placement. DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett in the fifth episode of the Giving Ventures podcast talks with Elizabeth McGuigan, director of policy at the Philanthropy Roundtable; Jennifer Butler, a consultant for People United for Privacy; and Scott Walter, president of Capital Research Center to talk all things philanthropy. The guests give a broad overview of what's happening in conservative philanthropy and what their organizations are doing to protect donor freedom and advance philanthropic giving on the political right.

In the fourth episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talk with three great guests working to strengthen families, protect children, and nurture new respect for dads. John-Paul "J.P." DeGance, president and CEO of Communio, works with churches and communities to bolster marriage; Darcy Olsen, CEO of GenJustice, works to ensure foster children have legal representation; and John Papola, CEO of the Emergent Order Foundation, works to engage fathers and encourage them to create an impact in their community. Even if families, foster care, and fatherhood aren't important pieces of your philanthropy, you will find some interesting tidbits in here—and some great reasons to be optimistic. Editor's Note: Gen Justice announced on Oct. 11 that it's changed its name to 'The Center for the Rights of Abused Children." It says the name change is an effort at "better communicating" its mission to help America's abused and abandoned children.

In our third episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks about school choice with three experts in education policy: Tommy Schultz, chief executive officer of the American Federation for Children; Nicki Neily, president of Parents Defending Education; and Garrett Ballengee, executive director of the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy.

In the second episode of Giving Ventures, host and DonorsTrust Vice President Peter Lipsett talks taxes with a handful of experts, or “happy warriors,” fighting the good fight in the world of tax policy, including Tax Foundation President Scott Hodge; National Taxpayers Union Foundation President Pete Sepp; and Buckeye Institute Vice President of Policy Rea Hederman.

Randy Hicks, president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Center for Opportunity, joins host Peter Lipsett to discuss what GCO is doing to address poverty in the Peach State; Matt Warner, president of Atlas Network, talks about the way his organization his helping think tanks more effectively make the case for free-market solutions to poverty; and Graham Walker, executive director of the Independent Institute, lists the unique ways his organization is tackling poverty and homelessness in the Golden State.