Giving Ventures

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 117 - Revitalizing Higher Education with Prof. Robert P. George Sep 15, 2026

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American higher education is in need of serious reform. Campus protests and activist professors are just the tip of the iceberg. But over the past 26 years, Princeton University professor Robert P. George has been building a movement that's revitalizing American colleges and universities. In this episode of Giving Ventures, Prof. George joins Peter to discuss the success of the James Madison Program at Princeton, the many centers modeled on the Madison Program that have spread across the country, and the need for deeper reforms to the para-academic institutions that credential and accredit in academia.

Ep. 116 - Do Politicians Even Listen to Think Tanks? Aug 25, 2026

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Nonprofit think tanks conduct research, prepare policy reports, and hold briefings for lawmakers. But does anyone in the halls of power really care? That's the question that guides this conversation with Scott Centorino.

Scott previously served as President Trump's Special Assistant for Domestic Policy in the White House and as a senior fellow at the Foundation for Government Accountability, a Florida-based think tank. His experiences give him special insight into what makes a think tank effective and how donors should evaluate their success.

Ep. 115 - The Mental Health Foundations of Freedom Aug 11, 2026

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John Adams famously said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Perhaps he should have included "a mentally healthy people." In recent years, Americans have become more willing to discuss mental health and seek professional help for anxiety, depression, and other maladies. But this commendable development has had side effects: self-fulfilling self-diagnoses, social media doom scrolling, and a decline in the feeling of agency. As a result, Americans increasingly believe improving their own lives is beyond their control and look to government for help.

Clay Routledge is a research psychologist and Executive Vice President of the Archbridge Institute. In this episode of Giving Ventures, he breaks down the latest mental health trends, charts a course for improved mental health, and explains the dangers a mentally unwell population poses for freedom.

Ep. 114 - The State of American Philanthropy Jul 28, 2026

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Americans are known to be the most generous people in the world, giving to charitable causes at rates that far outstrip our peers in other nations. In 2025, giving totaled more than $600 billion. And that number is driven primarily by individuals. At the same time, federal and state-level laws and regulations sometimes disincentivize philanthropy. Attempts to expose the names of anonymous donors, weaponize the IRS against nonprofits for perceived political bias, and add new strictures around giving threaten to undermine America's privately funded civil society. This episode of Giving Ventures explores the latest charitable giving statistics from Giving USA as well as a new report, the Free to Give Index, a recent publication of the Philanthropy Roundtable.

Claudia Cummings serves as senior vice president of public affairs at Philanthropy Roundtable, where her bird's-eye view of the philanthropic landscape gives her a unique perspective to break down the new Giving USA numbers. Matthew Mitchell is a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and co-author with Jack Salmon of the Free to Give Index, which draws on the methods of Fraser's often-cited Economic Freedom Indices.

Ep. 113 - Bridging Theory and Practice for Long-Run Impact Jul 14, 2026

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The work of preserving, cultivating, and advancing liberty is a long-term game. Fads come and go, but the principles underlying a free society are fixed. And for decades, one of the shining stars in the constellation of liberty has been the Mercatus Center. Mercatus was founded in 1980 and has grown into a talent cultivator, idea incubator, policy influencer, and all around force for free-market ideas. Its aim is to bridge the gap between ideas and real-world problems while investing in the long-term infrastructure for liberty.

In fact, Mercatus does so much and does it so effectively, the organization can be tricky to pin down in your mind. On this episode of Giving Ventures, Mercatus Center Executive Director Ben Klutsey sits down with Peter to explore the history, vision, and scope of Mercatus.

Ep. 112 - Catalyzing New Opportunities for Your Giving Jul 07, 2026

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This year, DonorsTrust is expanding our offerings with the launch of our Catalyst Portfolio funds and foundation-level philanthropic services. This episode of Giving Ventures announces these exciting new programs and casts a vision for how they will enable our community to grow and strengthen the liberty movement.

Ep. 111 - Shoring Up the Ethical Foundations of Freedom Jun 23, 2026

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Many people would say that America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles that ought to bring a set of ethics into our public life. But today's political environment seems to be one where ethics are lacking. This episode of Giving Ventures explores the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank that incorporates the Judeo-Christian cultural aspect into its thinking about public policy. EPPC has been around for 50 years and has remained a prominent voice on the right as American culture and politics has continued to evolve over the past half century. How does EPPC view itself in this moment, given its focus on traditional values and the Judeo Christian principles? Ryan Anderson joins Giving Ventures to discuss that question. Ryan has been president of EPPC for the past five years and before that had a long tenure at the Heritage Foundation.

Ep. 110 - Bridging Divides with Philanthropy Jun 09, 2026

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The 250th anniversary of America's independence presents an opportunity to bridge our political divides rather than deepen them. This episode of Giving Ventures explores Be the People, a nationwide civic effort that aims to resurrect shared American ideals and foster community-driven solutions that last. Peter talks with Sarah Cross, senior vice president at Stand Together about how leveraging the 250th with storytelling and strategic partnerships can rekindle a collective American identity. Sarah breaks down practical ways philanthropists of all sizes can support this long-term movement and emphasizes that lasting change requires a bottom-up approach, with local communities driving the narrative and solutions.

Ep. 109 - The Fusion Strengthening Free Markets May 26, 2026

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Making the case for free markets requires sound research and clear communication. The American Institute for Economic Research is one of the top think tanks doing that work today. AIER, founded in 1933 amidst the Great Depression, has long championed classical liberal principles—yet today, it faces the challenge of restoring momentum on both sides of the aisle.

In this episode of Giving Ventures, Peter sits down with Sam Gregg, AIER’s newly appointed president, to explore how the organization aims to reestablish free market ideas as essential to America's economic and cultural renewal. They break down AIER’s strategic efforts beyond research—outreach, education, social media, and coalition-building—designed to influence policymakers, journalists, and everyday Americans. Sam emphasizes AIER’s steadfast adherence to principles amid growing ideological divergence on the right. He believes reimagining fusionism can unify conservatives around the principles of liberty and virtue.

Ep. 108 - Protecting Foster Children by Securing Their Rights May 12, 2026

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The foster care system remains one of the most overlooked yet urgent issues affecting society’s most vulnerable children. Darcy Olsen, founder and CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, offers a clear-eyed perspective on why current reforms are insufficient and how legal advocacy can reshape outcomes for millions of kids.

With a personal story rooted in her own journey fostering and adopting children, Darcy emphasizes that many kids in the system are victims of drug exposure and neglect, not delinquency, and highlights the dire consequences of government failure. She walks through pragmatic reforms, including constitutional protections, legal representation, and safety measures that could drastically reduce child trafficking and abuse. Darcy’s work demonstrates that systemic change is possible when driven by accountability, rights-based law, and a commitment to creating safe, loving homes for every child.

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