Benjamin Soskis
Research Associate
The Urban Institute
Benjamin Soskis is a senior research associate in the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute.
A historian and journalist, Soskis is the coeditor of HistPhil, a web publication devoted to the history of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Previously, he was a fellow at the Center for Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy, and Policy at George Mason University.
Soskis has taught at the George Washington University and the University of California, Washington Center. He received his Ph.D. in American history from Columbia University.
Stories by This Author
-
OpinionCampus Protests, Donor Secrecy, and a Moment for Reform
The right’s politicized calls to “follow the money” speak to a very real need for donor transparency and nonprofit oversight. -
Opinion
How ‘Yes, and’ Philanthropy Could Unite the Charitable World’s Opposing Forces
An innovative giving approach aims to maximize good while indulging donor choice. Could it settle the debate over philanthropic pluralism? -
Opinion
Jeff Bezos Says Giving Is Hard. That Trope Goes Back to Andrew Carnegie
When invoked too zealously, it can deflect attention from what grantee leaders often find most difficult about philanthropy: a lack of urgency, a failure to deliver resources expeditiously, and the imposition of burdensome restrictions. -
Opinion
Why We Need to Keep an Eye on the Gates Foundation’s Board Expansion
The addition of three outsiders to the family fund is an important first step, but we need to keep our eye on how the new trustees deal with demands for a power shift and greater feedback from the people the philanthropy serves. -
Opinion
A Legacy of Sackler: Let’s Reconsider Philanthropic Naming Rights
A court settlement with the family whose fortune was made in opioids set a new precedent, one that should influence how nonprofits think about plastering the names of their benefactors on buildings and programs. -
Opinion
Philanthropy’s Failed Covid Test
While large sums have been given, the wealthiest are still richer than before the pandemic hit. And grant makers have been reluctant to say they will permanently lift restrictions on grants. What’s more, when it comes to vaccines, the world’s neediest are still waiting. -
Opinion
Optimism Has Long Been Fuel for Philanthropy. It Still Should Be, if It’s the Right Kind
As the Biden administration takes off and vaccinations begin to slow the deadly Covid virus, this could be the moment to wed a conviction that things will get better with a chastened self-examination from those who have already been doing well. -
Opinion
In Twin Crises, Philanthropy’s Test Is All About Power
As foundations figure out how to respond to the pandemic and racial inequality, they will be graded not just by how much they give but also how much they give up their resources and decision-making authority. -
Opinion
Amid the Covid-19 Crisis, Foundations Should Stop Treating the 5% Payout as Holy Writ (Opinion)
Understanding how perpetuity became the default for philanthropies can help grant makers rethink their attitudes toward giving now versus giving later, especially in a time of catastrophe. -
Opinion
The Way Jeff Bezos Unveiled His $10 Billion Announcement Maximized Publicity and Avoided Scrutiny. And That’s a Problem. (Opinion)
The public can’t assess whether large-scale philanthropy makes a difference when donors won’t provide details. And that is a big problem when concerns about inequality and capitalism are on the rise.
