Dear Brad: Many thanks for sharing with us your comments to a foundation's trustees. Your remarks are incisive, thoughtful and right on! This is neither a time for foundations to do business as usual or to fall into the trap of focusing primarily on their own admittedly strained internal operations. The American people and the Obama administration have a pronounced appetite for social change and bold ideas. President Obama also is the first president in our lifetime whose adult years were spent in a major urban area, which is also where the majority of U.S. foundations are located. Organized philanthropy is well-positioned to provide needed information, resources, and intelligence to officials at every level of government. This is a ripe time for a new generation of partnerships and advocacy to help the nation fulfill its social contract with its people. Michael Seltzer

Many thanks, Steve. The 'Rabin Plan' makes each of us part of the solution and engenders a sense of responsibility, which is exactly what President Obama has asked each of us to assume. Michael Seltzer

Thank you, Scott, for your comment. Let me add that we must not forget that we bear a special responsibility to bring to the public's attention the stories of those most negatively affected by the economic downturn. To use a religious phrase, we 'bear witness' to their hard times--both the 'old poor' and the 'new poor', to quote Geoffrey Canada-- and policy-makers at every level need to hear their voices when they make decisions affecting people's lives.

Mitch: I have been thinking about the issues that you have wisely raised. Certainly, it cannot be an era of 'business as usual' for both nonprofits and foundations. We are going to need to create new ways of operating in light of both the opportunities posed by the new administration and the economic quagmire that we are in. Organizations may need to be leaner and more nimble, and more inventive in their use of volunteer professionals and their outreach to the public through Web 2.0 technologies, for example. Once we navigate budget cuts, staff layoffs, downsizing and other painful adjustments, we hopefully can turn our attention to envisioning new ways of working. Michael Seltzer