Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Tuesday 05 April
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Philanthropy is celebrated as a noble human act – and in Australia, it’s also growing, with nearly 1,400 new private foundations established in Australia since 2001. But while ‘big philanthropy’ is playing a more prominent role in seeking to address social and environmental challenges all around the world, some question the motives and methods of big philanthropy and so-called ‘philanthrocapitalism’ – the Gates and Zuckerbergs of this world.
So, what is the role of philanthropy? What are its responsibilities and limitations? How must they act in order to retain legitimacy – and justify tax breaks they receive? Should philanthropic foundations last forever, or should they ‘spend down’? And, most importantly, how can philanthropic foundations be a force for positive change?
As president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Stephen Heintz is one of the world’s preeminent experts in the art of philanthropy, and is uniquely placed to reveal how the Rockefellers are working to help eliminate the industry that secured their fortune – by making a surprising and profound shift away from oil and toward green investment. Join him as he discusses global trends in giving, and the differing roles of philanthropy in Australia and the US.
Presented in partnership with the United States Studies Centre and Philanthropy Australia.
Featuring
Stephen Heintz
Stephen Heintz is President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Before joining the RBF, he held top leadership positions in both the nonprofit and public sectors. Most recently, he was founding president of Dēmos, a public policy research and advocacy organisation working to enhance the vitality of American democracy and promote more broadly shared prosperity.
Prior to founding Dēmos, Stephen served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the EastWest Institute (EWI), where he worked on issues of economic reform, civil society development, and international security.
Based in Prague, Czech Republic, from 1990 through 1997, he worked extensively throughout Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States. He devoted the first 15 years of his career to politics and government service in the State of Connecticut, where he served as commissioner of economic development and commissioner of social welfare. In 1988, he helped draft and secure passage by Congress of the Family Support Act, the first major effort to reform the nation's welfare system.
He currently serves on the boards of the EastWest Institute, the Rockefeller Archive Center, and the American Prospect. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 the Nonprofit Times named him one of the 50 most influential leaders of the nonprofit sector.
In 2013, President Bronisław Komorowski of Poland granted him the Officer’s Cross – Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for his contributions to building civil society and democratic institutions in Poland.
Peter Mares
Peter Mares is lead moderator with The Cranlana Programme, an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to developing the ethical decision-making skills of Australia’s leaders. Peter is also contributing editor at Inside Story magazine and adjunct fellow at Swinburne University’s Centre for Urban Transitions. He is a former ABC broadcaster and the author of three books, including No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis (Text 2018).