The signs of distress in the world of philanthropy are no more vividly illustrated than at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in Los Altos, Calif.
When Congress allowed the estate tax to expire at the end of 2009 it may not
have realized that it was setting up a social experiment that could test the values
of high-net-worth individuals.
Without a doubt, the biggest event in philanthropy this year was the Giving Pledge, a commitment by 40 of the wealthiest Americans to give away at least half of their fortunes, about $600 billion.
Bryan answers this and nine other follow-up questions that will help readers understand the applications, benefits and nuances of this valuable management tool.