While 82% of Americans support the work of private charitable foundations, according to an online survey released yesterday commissioned by the center-left Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and conducted by Ipsos, 81% strongly agree or rather agree that “American taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize billionaires and other wealthy Americans who want to create permanent legacy foundations that will exist in perpetuity to donate to charities of their choosing.”

Ninety percent of the more than 1,000 respondents classified as “conservative/republican” strongly or somewhat agree with this statement; 80% of those classified as “liberal/democratic” agree. Of those in a category labeled “Far Right”, 73% agree and of those labeled “Far Left”, 83% agree.

The survey, conducted last month, also finds that Americans don’t know how private foundations and donor-advised funds work, 69% support a 10% payment requirement for foundations and DAFs, and 72% support a requirement that DAFs make grants within two to five years of receiving donations.

IPS supports reform of the legal structure of philanthropy and nonprofit organizations in America.

This article originally appeared as “More Conservatives Than Liberals Say Taxpayers ‘Shouldn’t Have To Fund’ Foundation Creation, Poll Results” in the July 15, 2022 Giving Review.