Rebecca Richards

Director of Fund for Academic Renewal (FAR)

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Rebecca 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.

RECENT WORK

ACTA in the News Artificial Intelligence

AI Is Not a Teacher, Let Alone a Friend

Meta recently published an ad titled, “Talk it out with Meta AI – Book Club,” where AI serves as both an event planner and literary professor within the span of 30 seconds. The ad clearly misses the irony of its own title as talking things out is the point of a book club. Cringeworthy enough on its own, the ad inspires broader concerns with turning too quickly to AI to outsource some of the most human things in life.

ACTA in the News Philanthropy

Free speech and donor privacy go hand in hand

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 […]

ACTA in the News Philanthropy

Meaningful Giving: An interview with Beth Breeze

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 Forum Philanthropy

Four Ways Philanthropy can Protect Free Speech on Campus

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 […]

ACTA in the News Donor Intent

Giving while living for higher education

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 […]

The Forum Western Civilization

Gertrude Himmelfarb on Higher Education’s Search for Relevance

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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Rebecca Richards

RECENT WORK

AI Is Not a Teacher, Let Alone a Friend

Free speech and donor privacy go hand in hand

Meaningful Giving: An interview with Beth Breeze

Four Ways Philanthropy can Protect Free Speech on Campus

Giving while living for higher education

Gertrude Himmelfarb on Higher Education’s Search for Relevance

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