What Does a Trump Victory Mean for Nonprofits and Donors Focused on Democracy? With Stephen Heintz
Stephen Heintz, president and CEO of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, joins Phil and Grace to discuss the results of the 2024 presidential election, whether there is merit to the argument of journalist Ezra Klein and others that certain nonprofit organizations are having an outsized impact on the Democratic party, the role of nonprofits in a functioning democracy, and what it will take to rebuild trust across ideological divides. Stephen offers insight into the long-term, community-based work he believes will help nurture civic engagement and bolster democracy, suggesting both where donors can give as well as actions they can take. He also shares the story behind the Rockefeller Brothers Fund decision to be a leader in the movement to divest from fossil fuels, and the unexpected ripple effects that created.
Guest Info:
Stephen B. Heintz is president and CEO of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a private family foundation with an endowment of approximately $1.4 billion that advances social change for a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. After beginning his professional life in public service in the state of Connecticut, he has devoted his career to strengthening democratic culture and institutions to better serve citizens. In 2010, he set an ambitious path to align investment of the Fund’s financial assets with its mission, resulting in its 2014 decision to divest from fossil fuels.
Credits:
Podcast Production: Rococo Punch
Music: APM Music
Artwork: Jay Kustka
Resources:
When Will Democrats Learn to Say No? by Adam Jentleson in the New York Times
The End of the Obama Coalition – Michael Lind on The Ezra Klein Show
“The New Class War: Saving Democracy from the Managerial Elite” by Michael Lind
Ezra Klein on Where Democrats Go From Here – Pod Save America
Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Brennan Center for Justice
Dēmos
Eric Liu on Revitalizing Faith in American Democracy – The Giving Done Right Podcast
Citizen University
Habits of the Heart and Mind: How to Fortify Civic Culture
Trust for Civic Life