Pablo Eisenberg, Thomas R. Asher and Jim Abernathy founded NCRP with initial funding provided by John D. Rockefeller III, John Filer and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
Historically, philanthropy as a sector was largely unregulated and unaccountable. After the Tax Reform Act of 1969, Congress began to closely examine foundations, which exerted tremendous social influence. In 1973, John D. Rockefeller III put together the Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs, which would be also be known as the Filer Commission, named after its chairman, John H. Filer.
A coalition of public interest organizations, known as the Donee Group, organized to ensure that recipients of philanthropy are heard by the commission, which were largely represented by leaders in the business community, judges, religion leaders, university presidents and foundation executives.
Pablo Eisenberg, Thomas R. Asher and Jim Abernathy, prominent leaders from the Donee Group, founded NCRP with initial funding provided by John D. Rockefeller III, John Filer and Rockefeller Brothers Fund to ensure that the sector continued to address the issues that came out from the Filer Commission.
NCRP’s mission was to advocate for the philanthropic community to provide nonprofit organizations with essential resources and opportunities to work toward social and economic justice for disadvantaged and disenfranchised communities.
For a more detailed account of NCRP’s founding, read 30 Years: 30 Years: A History from 1976 to 2006.