"[The Center's] research and activities help the philanthropic community become more effective and better understood…If forums like this one help to demystify philanthropy and generate ideas about how we can work together better, we increase our chances of being valued as a resource for the future."
Susan Berresford
President
Ford Foundation
The Center's annual Distinguished Speakers Series provides a venue for leaders from different vantage points - policymakers, foundation executives, and philanthropists - to share their views on philanthropy and public policy, stimulating a conversation about the changes occurring in philanthropy and the implications for public problem solving. Each event brings together key thinkers and decision makers from philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, government, business and the academic community to consider the role of philanthropy in addressing the challenges facing our communities.
To register for any Speakers Series event, please call
213-821-1262 or send an email to cppp2@usc.edu
Click on the title of remarks to download a full transcript.
2007-2008 Speakers Series
Eli Broad
Founder, The Broad Foundations
"Entrepreneurial Philanthropy in the 21st Century:
Willow Bay in Conversation with Eli Broad" (PDF)
October 25, 2007
Carl J. Schramm
President and Chief Executive Officer
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
February 21, 2008
Henry Cisneros
Executive Chairman
CityView
April 9, 2008
2006-07 Series
Judith Rodin
President, The Rockefeller Foundation
"New Philanthropy for Our Young Century" (PDF)
November 29, 2006
William H. Gates, Sr.,
Co-Chair, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
"Philanthropy: Prevention, Persistence and Payoff" (PDF)
February 22, 2007
Joel Fleishman,
Professor of Law and Public Policy, Duke University
"How Foundations Succeed and Fail" (PDF)
March 29, 2007
Teresa Heinz
Chairman, Howard Heinz Endowment and Heinz Family Philanthropies
"High Impact Giving: Philanthropy in the Age of Accountability" (PDF)
October 17, 2005
2004-05 Series
Vartan Gregorian
President, Carnegie Corporation of New York
"Our Nation: Are We Still At Risk? Some Reflections on K-12 School Reform" (PDF)
October 4, 2004
Senator Timothy E. Wirth
President, United Nations Foundation and Better World Fund
"Mobilizing for Social Change: Impacting Policy, Politics and the Legislative Agenda" (PDF)
March 22, 2005
2003-04 Series
Hodding Carter III
President, CEO and Trustee, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
"Out On A Limb or Along For The Ride?" (PDF)
October 30, 2003
Leslie Lenkowsky
Former CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service
"The Politics of Doing Good" (PDF)
February 19, 2004
Michael and Jane Eisner
Founders, The Eisner Foundation, Inc.
"Philanthropy as a Family Affair" (PDF)
April 14, 2004
2002-03 Series
Senator George J. Mitchell
Independent Overseer, Liberty Disaster Fund, American Red Cross
"Philanthropy and Public Policy: What Have We Learned Since September 11th?" (PDF)
September 24, 2002
Susan V. Berresford
President, Ford Foundation
"Foundations and Public Policy: Creating Change in a Changing World" (PDF)
February 13, 2003
Norman Lear
Founder, Declaration of Independence Road Trip
"Philanthropy and Civic Activism: Personal Reflections" (PDF)
April 24, 2003