Announcing Five Finalists for the 2020 Gregor G. Peterson Prize in Venture Philanthropy
What an honor to highlight the work of five excellent nonprofits as this year’s finalists for the Gregor G. Peterson Prize in Venture Philanthropy. Each of these organizations shines with innovation, inspirational missions, and incredible leadership. All are among more than 50 other peer organizations considered the cream of the crop for this year’s Prize. The Peterson family will work diligently over the coming weeks to choose one among them for this prestigious $250,000 Prize, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to walk alongside them in their deliberations.
When you look at the work each of these groups has achieved in short order, you can’t help but say, “Donor fatigue, be gone!” Hoplin Jackson Charitable Advisors hopes you may be motivated to consider how you, too, can stretch your philanthropic outcomes. Please contact us with any questions.
In 2020, the list of finalists includes (in alphabetical order):
1) Center for American Liberty: Executive Director Mark Trammell
Despite America’s robust history of protecting civil rights—often through American institutions such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)—some Americans find themselves fired from their jobs, censored on social media, denied the right to speak on campus, and even subjected to physical harm…all because they express non-woke views. The Center for American Liberty seeks to defend constitutionally enshrined rights from forces that seek to suppress them: academia, social media, elected officials and bureaucrats, and organized violent groups. The Center’s unique approach—which combines excellent (free!) legal representation and media exposure that unleashes public pressure—hastens cases to closure, especially those against public officials.
2) The Foundation for Research on Economic Opportunity: President Avik Roy
FREOPP seeks to “reinvent” the typical think tank model and, in so doing, succeed where others have failed: developing effective public policies to help America’s most vulnerable citizens. By presenting data-driven policies that emphasize the benefits to low income citizens, FREOPP expects resistance to the vehicle (free market reform) to diminish. FREOPP says the key to passing reforms is bipartisanship … and the key to bipartisanship is Silicon Valley-like data analyses and visualization (organizing large datasets into understandable charts) that appeal to lawmakers in both parties.
3) The Independence Fund: CEO Sarah Verardo
The Independence Fund strives to meet the physical, mental, and emotional needs of our nation’s catastrophically wounded, injured, and ill veterans. The nonprofit believes “We are free because others fought for our independence. Now we are fighting for theirs.” Independence@Home, the organization’s newest program, launched in 2020 in response to COVID-19 and seeks to assist these tragically wounded veterans during times of emergency and national disaster by delivering direct services including food, cleaning supplies, medical equipment, and more.
4) Let Grow: Executive Director Tracy Tomasso
Let Grow says the consequences of helicopter parenting span all strata of society: kids have come to overestimate danger and underestimate their own ability to cope, college students are triggered simply by hearing viewpoints contrary to their own, adults lack basic skills to negotiate disagreements in the workplace, and legislators criminalize parents who empower kids to be independent. Let Grow believes kids are smart, brave, and capable. They focus on reversing the helicopter parenting trend by marking it normal and valued to give kids freedom. By changing America’s parenting mindset, kids with free time develop deep interests and are self-driven, healthier, and stronger.
5) Sunshine Enterprises: Executive Director Joel Hamernick
Through its training and coaching programs, Sunshine Enterprises aims to empower high-potential entrepreneurs who live in Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods to start and grow businesses. Sunshine says its programs offer a win-win….new entrepreneurs generate supplemental family income while poor neighborhoods benefit from increase economic activity. Sunshine says that demonstrating success in this most vulnerable community would show other cities what is achievable through the marketplace, rather than reliance on government.
Stay tuned in early December 2020 for the Gregor G. Peterson Prize in Venture Philanthropy recipient to be announced at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) States & Nation Policy Summit.