Consider oil magnate J. Howard Pew (1882-1971). As Waldemar A. Nielsen noted in "The Golden Donors," the charter of the J. Howard Pew Freedom Trust (one of seven trusts making up the Pew Charitable Trusts) in 1957 spelled out that Pew intended to "acquaint the American people" with "the evils of bureaucracy," "the values of a free market," and "the paralyzing effects of government controls on the lives and activities of people." Pew also wanted to "inform our people of the struggle, persecution, hardship, sacrifice and death by which freedom of the individual was won."

Admirers and critics alike of Pew's recent signature initiatives--such as its crusades for campaign finance regulation, universal early childhood education, and recognition of the dangers of global climate change--can agree that in the past two decades--with the exception of its emphasis on religion in public life--J. Howard's worldview and philanthropic goals have played little role in Pew's charitable giving.

Pew is active in the criminal justice arena, and it monotonically supports being softer on criminals.  Would J. Howard Pew have approved?  I don't know.  I do know that foundation drift is a very real and very serious problem.  Founders and donors of nonprofit organizations can and should takes steps to avoid it, lest the money they donated to do good is diverted to hasten America's downward spiral.