Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short

by Glen Galaich

256 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Glen Galaich is a thought leader and national voice on the future of philanthropy and social impact. As CEO of the Stupski Foundation—a major U.S. spend-down foundation—he oversees initiatives advancing food justice, economic empowerment, post-secondary success, and health equity across the San Francisco Bay Area and Hawaiʻi. He is the co-host of the podcast, Break Fake Rules, and author of Who Gives?!, a newsletter which interrogates the myths, incentives, and power structures shaping modern philanthropy. A political science Ph.D with more than 25 years of experience, Galaich has conducted national research on Americans’ perceptions of philanthropy, donor control, and the effectiveness of common foundation practices. He has worked with major donors, policymakers, advisors, corporate leaders, and grassroots organizers to build trust-based relationships and accelerate systems-level change in the Big Giving system. Galaich previously served as CEO of Forward Global, where he led a landmark international merger to create a global learning network for philanthropists. Earlier in his career, he helped launch the Global Philanthropy Forum and held national fundraising roles at Human Rights Watch. Galaich has earned a Colorado Broadcasters Award for his work as a talk show radio host, and his writing has appeared in American Political Science Review, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and other leading publications. He lives in Marin County, California, with his wife, two children, and two dogs.

Reviews

[GeekGurlHappyDance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful storytelling that took me on a journey I didn't expect. Not only is Galaich's insider account of the controlling behaviors of billionaires in U.S. philanthropy an important public issue that I didn't know about or consider much, but at times I was genuinely moved by the author’s story, other times fascinated, angry, or compelled to reevaluate my own thinking about these matters. Major donors get a big tax break for their donations, and then many give that money to things that benefit themselves and their own elite class. Or worse, the author shows how and why billions, even trillions, of this donated money is currently accumulating in private investments, rather than being given in a timely manner to nonprofit charities like it should be. Surely, we as a country can do better.

I like how Galaich brings attention to what he calls the "permission structure" that we as Americans tacitly grant these practices, highlights our own power in this, and outlines changes we can make. He also is empathetic to donors who are honestly trying to give with more impact and shares some of their stories as well. Really interesting book.