It’s increasingly common for billionaires to be at the centre of the political conversation about what they choose to do with their money. But in the US, during this particularly charged campaign, critiques of the philanthropy sector have been more visible than usual.

The sector has been thrown into the limelight several times, by Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance, who has referred to big foundations as ‘social justice hedge funds’ and called for an increase in payouts. Donald Trump has also been critiquing big gift headline philanthropy (when it doesn’t benefit his campaign), especially the $400 million donation in 2020 from Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan to ‘bolster democracy’.

But: ‘I think philanthropy is being misconstrued as principally billionaire philanthropy.’

Kathleen Enright is President and CEO of the Council on Foundations.