Who are the private foundations, such as RWJF?
The foundations are usually not well known to the public. They don’t make a product or play football or do other things that tend to attract notice. They have a few outstanding traits: They are extremely wealthy and uniquely privileged. One reason they have so much money is that they are exempt from taxation. And because they are philanthropic organizations, they do not have to file the reports required of lobbying organizations. Grantmaking is not lobbying-however, it is potentially a way of buying influence that neatly circumvents laws that apply to a labor union or a Political Action Committee. 2. What do private foundations such as RWJF actually do? First, let us consider what they don’t do. They don’t help individuals who are sick or injured. When Mother Teresa died, thousands flocked to the funeral, saying, “I love her; she was there for me when I needed her.” RWJF is not at all like Mother Teresa. Nor is it like the Shriner’s Hospital, which takes in burned children and gets the
