We would like to draw our readers’ attention to William Schambra’s article in today’s issue of Philanthropy Daily. Schambra uses the founding of The New Criterion as context to examine the history and unique character of conservative philanthropy. He also wonders if conservative foundations would be interested in such bold projects today.
It is difficult to imagine where a Hilton Kramer and Sam Lipman would turn today, to fund a project as remote as is The New Criterion from the well-defined and carefully honed mission statements of our largest conservative donors. In fact, the conservative movement in general might be living off — and failing to replenish — the cultural capital still with us in institutions like The New Criterion, initiated during and left over from the era of broad-based intellectual activism undertaken by Joyce, Larry, Piereson, and Lenkowsky, when they ran the most significant foundations.