Let me say at the outset: I’m not only a conservative who believes in donor intent, I wrote the only book on the subject. It has gone through three editions and I am working on the fourth. As part of the fourth edition, I am condensing and updating a monograph I wrote in 1998 called SHOULD FOUNDATIONS LIVE FOREVER? THE PROBLEM OF PERPETUITY. If you would like a copy of this, I would be delighted to send it to you.

I think what you want and what I want are not far apart. I would like donors to spend their fortunes in their lifetimes or no later than 30 years after their deaths. I would like donors to do so voluntarily because it is the right thing to do. I am opposed to any mandated increases in the payout rate.

I frequently go to philanthropy seminars at the Hudson Institute and what I find is that in terms of philanthropic practice (as opposed to what donors should spend their money on), liberals and conservatives agree about 85 percent of the time. I think what we are both opposed to is the flabby old foundation who pays out as little as they can legally.

I think the left and the right should learn from each other rather than fight each other, so in that spirit I have written this email.