Director of Fund for Academic Renewal (FAR)
Request an Interview Follow on Twitter/XRebecca Richards is the Director of the Fund for Academic Renewal (FAR), a program of ACTA that works closely with higher education donors to design, monitor, and evaluate transformative gifts that meet their philanthropic objectives. Prior to joining FAR, she was a fellow with the John Jay Institute. Rebecca graduated from Baylor University with a University Scholar’s degree in philosophy and is currently enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Kent in Philanthropic Studies. Her work has been published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Philanthropy Daily, Law and Liberty, and the Washington Examiner.
How much is free speech worth? According to one donor, $100 million. Last week, the University of Chicago received a $100 million donation in support of free speech efforts on campus. The gift supports the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, including its speaking events, orientation programs, and fellowships, to establish a culture of free expression from students’ first day […]
My research is focused on the complexity of the philanthropy space – how to understand and navigate it. There is far more to private giving for the public good than most people realize, but I also do not want people to feel overwhelmed.
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has long advocated for a campus culture that promotes intellectual diversity, open inquiry, and free expression. The unfettered pursuit of truth is the lifeblood of higher education, yet today we face a deepening free speech crisis at colleges and universities. Intelligent giving can preserve and foster a culture […]
A recent gift to California Lutheran University shows how donors and recipients can work together to marry the donor’s vision and the university’s needs. Giving well can be a challenge for donors who want to make a tangible difference with their philanthropy. It requires a clear vision, open conversations, and a willingness to listen on […]
At the end of 2019, Gertrude Himmelfarb, renowned historian and public intellectual, passed away, though her scholarship and ideas continue to inform current understanding of difficult challenges facing our nation. In a 1994 essay, Dr. Himmelfarb evaluated the effects of both World War II and affirmative action on the mission and structure of higher education. Her description […]
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