The 250th anniversary of America's independence presents an opportunity to bridge our political divides rather than deepen them. This episode of Giving Ventures explores Be the People, a nationwide civic effort that aims to resurrect shared American ideals and foster community-driven solutions that last. Peter talks with Sarah Cross, senior vice president at Stand Together about how leveraging the 250th with storytelling and strategic partnerships can rekindle a collective American identity. Sarah breaks down practical ways philanthropists of all sizes can support this long-term movement and emphasizes that lasting change requires a bottom-up approach, with local communities driving the narrative and solutions.

Making the case for free markets requires sound research and clear communication. The American Institute for Economic Research is one of the top think tanks doing that work today. AIER, founded in 1933 amidst the Great Depression, has long championed classical liberal principles—yet today, it faces the challenge of restoring momentum on both sides of the aisle.

In this episode of Giving Ventures, Peter sits down with Sam Gregg, AIER’s newly appointed president, to explore how the organization aims to reestablish free market ideas as essential to America's economic and cultural renewal. They break down AIER’s strategic efforts beyond research—outreach, education, social media, and coalition-building—designed to influence policymakers, journalists, and everyday Americans. Sam emphasizes AIER’s steadfast adherence to principles amid growing ideological divergence on the right. He believes reimagining fusionism can unify conservatives around the principles of liberty and virtue.

The foster care system remains one of the most overlooked yet urgent issues affecting society’s most vulnerable children. Darcy Olsen, founder and CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, offers a clear-eyed perspective on why current reforms are insufficient and how legal advocacy can reshape outcomes for millions of kids.

With a personal story rooted in her own journey fostering and adopting children, Darcy emphasizes that many kids in the system are victims of drug exposure and neglect, not delinquency, and highlights the dire consequences of government failure. She walks through pragmatic reforms, including constitutional protections, legal representation, and safety measures that could drastically reduce child trafficking and abuse. Darcy’s work demonstrates that systemic change is possible when driven by accountability, rights-based law, and a commitment to creating safe, loving homes for every child.

The legal battles shaping the future of liberty often unfold behind the scenes, yet their impact resonates across society. This episode of Giving Ventures explores how public interest law firms like Liberty Justice Center are leveraging strategic litigation to reinforce constitutional rights and curb government overreach. Sara Albrecht, chairman of the Liberty Justice Center, joins Peter to dissect landmark LJC wins at the Supreme Court like Janus v. AFSCME, which banned mandatory union dues for public-sector employees, and VOS Selections v. Trump, which ruled the Trump administration's tariffs unconstitutional.

These cases reveal the intricate, multi-year process of securing a public interest legal win, from identifying plaintiffs to preparing for trial. Sara shares how the organization’s success hinges on disciplined messaging, careful plaintiff selection, and unwavering dedication to constitutional principles. For strategic donors interested in long-term impact, this conversation illustrates how targeted legal action can protect individual freedoms by establishing important precedents.

Most donors overlook the one thing that could undermine their entire legacy: donor intent—and a simple strategy to safeguard it. In this episode of Giving Ventures, we’re sharing a recent webinar we hosted for our clients on the topic of donor intent.

Kim Dennis, co-founder of DonorsTrust and a longtime advocate for protecting donor intent, reveals how the concept of donor intent was born out of resistance to external pressures—and why it’s more relevant today than ever. Discover how well-crafted donor intent statements can prevent your philanthropic vision from drifting, even when organizations change or close their doors.

You’ll learn specific tactics for clarifying and recording your intent, including the critical importance of granular, airtight language. Kim shares the wisdom behind “sunsetting” accounts, the most effective ways to prepare for organizational shifts, and how engaging your advisors and successors now can ensure your values endure.

⁠Webinar on crafting your donor intent statement (4/22/26)⁠

⁠Webinar on how DonorsTrust safeguards donor intent (5/12/26)

Most state-level political breakthroughs happen when social entrepreneurs step up — but few leverage the full potential of strategic philanthropy and advocacy. Matt Brouillette, the architect behind Pennsylvania’s powerful free-market movement, reveals the blueprint social entrepreneurs can follow to transform states from within. This episode of Giving Ventures explores the unique role of entrepreneurial leaders in shaping public policy and building durable infrastructure for freedom.

Matt Brouillette is the president and CEO of Commonwealth Partners, leading efforts to shift state policy and race ahead of progressive infrastructure. His work demonstrates that real change begins with bold, entrepreneurial leadership — and that everyone, from philanthropists to grassroots citizens, has a part to play. Matt's newest book is You Gotta Win Pennsylvania.

Americans for Fair Treatment

Black Pastors United for Education

Commonwealth Foundation

Commonwealth Partners

The Fairness Center

The Joshua Group

Mackinac Center

State Policy Network

Filmmaker and Acton Institute scholar Michael Matheson Miller joins Peter to discuss poverty in America. Back in 2014, Michael directed Poverty, Inc., an award-winning documentary that investigated and challenged the multi-billion-dollar poverty industrial complex around the world. His soon-coming film is Poverty Trap, which turns its attention to the failures of America's anti-poverty efforts.

There is a Hall of Fame for just about everything in this country. But where is the Hall of Fame celebrating the inventors, the creators, the entrepreneurs that have made America so great? Well, there isn't one yet.

However, the great social entrepreneur John Tillman is working on a $350 million project aimed at building a hall of fame for entrepreneurship and American innovation, which he is calling the Hall of Giants. John joins Giving Ventures to share his vision and provide a peek at the special soft launch it has coming up on the mall later this summer.

John is the chairman and former CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute. He's also been founding or reviving other organizations from Center Square, Bearing Tree, Iron Light. And before all that, he was a business entrepreneur himself.

Many people underestimate how fragile liberty really is and how much it relies on a vibrant global movement. Brad Lips, CEO of Atlas Network, pulls back the curtain on the strategies empowering think tanks worldwide to defend freedom, fight corruption, and lift communities out of poverty. Brad describes how Atlas Network’s "Coach, Compete, Celebrate" model accelerates achievement among liberty advocates across more than one hundred countries—and what the liberty movement in the US can learn from our international friends.

In a world where authoritarian regimes sometimes seem to have the upper hand, understanding how to nurture, fund, and scale liberty efforts is crucial. If you're you're a donor eager to deploy your resources smartly across borders to make an impact that lasts, this episode is essential listening.

In recent years, advocates of school choice have celebrated significant legislative victories. In many states, the challenge now lies in transforming these wins into tangible opportunities for families by building up new schools. This episode of Giving Ventures explores the challenges and opportunities of the implementation phase of school choice with two distinguished guests.