Edgar Villanueva,  CEO of Decolonizing Wealth Project and Liberated Capital had a problem with the request for pluralism, published in an op-ed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy in April.  The authors* asked for readers to stop expecting foundations and philanthropists to pledge allegiance to narrow sets of prescribed views. 

Villanueva’s letter to the editor, titled “Debunking the Myth of Philanthropic Pluralism” (April 26, 2023), begins by saying “the idea that philanthropy’s biggest challenge is divisiveness reflects a level of fragility that impedes social-justice work.” He has plenty more to say about that. Link to the letter. 

*Op-ed authors: 

• Kathleen Enright,  Council on Foundation President
• Sam Singh Gill, Doris Duke Foundation President
• Darren Walker, Ford Foundation President
• Brian Hooks, Stand Together Chairman
• Elise Westhoff, Philanthropy Roundtable President.