The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit organization which provides consulting services to government agencies with the aim to make them more efficient.1 Its seeks to encourage more young people to work for the federal government. 2
Background
The Partnership was founded by Samuel J. Heyman in 2001. After graduating from Harvard in 1963, Heyman worked for then-U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in the Kennedy administration. This experience had a lasting impact on Heyman: after amassing a fortune at his father’s real estate business Heyman Companies, Heyman decided to create a nonprofit organization that would encourage young people to work for the government by making government jobs more accessible.3
Heyman pledged $45 million to Partnership at its inception, which was closely followed by a $4 million pledge from the Annenberg Foundation.3
In a 2007 interview with the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Partnership president Max Stier complained about the declining interest in government jobs among young people. “When John F. Kennedy issued his call to service, to government, it was a lot simpler world. The president could actually move a nation in a way that is much harder to do today,” he said. He attributed the cause for low numbers of young federal workers at the time to a variety of reasons, including the Vietnam War causing the government to gain lasting negative connotation, the profitability of the private sector, a high number of federal employees eligible for retirement, slow hiring processes, and “politically appointed” agency leaders obstructing new hires.3
According to the same interview, Stier had apparently welcomed the way that the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center “really made the government relevant in people’s lives in a way it hadn’t been for a couple generations.” He added, “9/11 made us realize in fact we were at risk, and that the primary vehicle to address this challenge was our government.”3 He also advised that the American public should think of civil service workers in the same way that they think of the military.3
Activity
Stier stated that one of the “core principles” of the Partnership is to help the government become more efficient because it “does not have adequate metrics to allow it to understand its own effectiveness.”3
The Partnership for Public Service helped establish the Congressional Public Service Caucus, a caucus made up of Members of the House of Representatives that wish to promote policies that will persuade more people to work for the federal government.4 5 The Partnership has convinced multiple federal agencies to shorten their hiring methods by “eliminating many steps in the application process.”3
In 2005, the Partnership received a government grant of $600,000 to strengthen several university programs which aimed to hire graduating students as federal workers.3
In 2009, the Partnership took on most of the staff of the Council for Excellence in Government, a similar nonprofit that closed due to funding shortages. The Partnership also adopted some of the Council’s programs, such as leadership training programs for federal managers.6
The Partnership worked with both the Trump and the Clinton campaigns in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election to ensure that the future administration would be well-prepared for the appointee process according to their standards, regardless of the outcome.7
In December 2016, the Partnership joined efforts with the Washington Post to launch a program that tracks all government employees appointed by President Donald Trump. “This tracker will play a key role in holding the president-elect and the Senate accountable for ensuring the top leaders are in place to run our government effectively, keep our country safe and deliver critical services to the American people,” Partnership president Max Stier said at the time. “The data we gather with this tracker will also inform our reporting on the new administration,” senior politics editor at the Washington Post Steven Ginsberg added.89
Initiatives
Call to Serve is an initiative by the Partnership for Public Service and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which facilitates cooperation between federal agencies and universities to promote government jobs to students.1011
The Partnership runs the “Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals” program, often referred to as the “Sammies,” which presents medals and cash prizes to government employees to recognize them for their achievements in hopes that it will inspire more people to work in the government.1213
Excellence in Government is a fellowship program run by the Partnership which provides a leadership educational course to federal employees. 14
People
The Partnership for Public Service has over two dozen people on its advisory board, many of them holding high ranking positions in government, media, academia, and nonprofit organizations. 15
Max Stier is the president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. He has worked in various positions in the federal government. 16 In August 2017, Stier wrote an op-ed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy stressing to donors and private foundations that it is still important to support the federal government, and especially nonprofits that aid it such as his Partnership, even if they do not like the sitting president. 17
In 1995, Stier was hired by the Williams & Connolly law firm. While Stier was working for Williams & Connolly, the firm represented former President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.18 Future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh worked for then-Independent Counsel Ken Starr, who wrote a report establishing grounds for Bill Clinton’s impeachment.1920
Nearly twenty years later, in September 2019, the New York Times reported that Stier had alleged that Kavanaugh involved himself in an indecent sexual act during a college party when he was a student at Yale University.21 The female student involved in the alleged incident did not speak with Times reporters; the Times later appended an editor’s note stating that “friends say she does not recall the episode.”22 Stier’s account reportedly made it to the Times second-hand.23
Funding
According to Partnership for Public Service’s latest IRS filing from 2017, the group reported $13.8 million in total revenues, $16.3 million in total expenditures, and $16.7 million in net assets. 24 Since 2008, the Partnership has received $20.6 million in federal grants. 25
Funding sources
Since 2002, the Partnership has received over $33 million from grantmaking foundations and other nonprofits: 26
| Partnership for Public Service: Grantors (2002-2017) | Year(s) | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acquavella Family Foundation | 2003 | $10,000 | |
| Aetna Foundation Inc | 2007 | $30,000 | Service to America Medals |
| Annette Heyman Foundation Inc | 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014 | $10,473,633 | Unrestricted Grant (2002), Unrestricted Grant (2009), General Support (2012), General Support (2014) |
| Aon Foundation | 2009 | $75,000 | The partnership for public service is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that works to revitalize federal government by Inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works |
| Bank Of America Charitable Gift Fund | 2011 | $10,000 | Supports named organization |
| Baron Capital Foundation | 2008, 2009 | $30,000 | General Support (2008), General Support (2009) |
| Beatrice & Samuel A Seaver Foundation | 2005 | $5,000 | |
| Bechtel Group Foundation | 2009, 2010 | $10,000 | For scientific, charitable, and for educational purposes (2009) |
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | 2010, 2011, 2012-2016 | $4,056,178 | To develop and administer a program to develop strong leaders and spur innovation to improve our nation's schools (2011, 2012); Research and learning opportunities (2012-2016) |
| Bostock Family Foundation | 2003, 2004, 2006 | $40,000 | |
| Broadcom Foundation | 2014, 2016 | $59,418 | White house stem education fellowship (2014), Noemie Lev's fellowship extension at the office of science and technology policy (2016) |
| Caplin Foundation | 2014 | $6,144 | General support |
| Carl C Icahn Foundation | 2016, 2017 | $20,000 | Grant for general support |
| Carol Bernick Family Foundation | 2006 | $5,000 | |
| Cendant Charitable Foundation | 2003 | $10,000 | |
| Challenger Foundation | 2003, 2004 | $25,000 | |
| Charina Endowment Fund Inc | 2012, 2015 | $350,000 | General purpose fund (2012), Charitable contribution (2015) |
| Charina Foundation Inc | 2010-2016 | $37,500 | General Purpose |
| Community Foundation Of New Jersey | 2016 | $50,000 | General support |
| Continental Grain Foundation | 2006 | $5,000 | |
| Daryl & Steven Roth Foundation | 2016 | $10,000 | Recognized charities |
| Democracy Fund Inc | 2016, 2017 | $375,000 | General support (2016, 2017); Program support for research on congressional oversight (2017) |
| Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation | 2003 | $15,000 | First annual partnership for Public Service Gala held on May 29, 2003 |
| Earle I Mack Foundation Inc | 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 | $30,000 | |
| Edward & Sandra Meyer Foundation Inc | 2006 | $10,000 | |
| Edward John And Patricia Rosenwald Foundation | 2014-2016 | $35,000 | General Support |
| Englander Foundation Inc | 2003-2005 | $75,000 | |
| Envision Excellence In Stemeducation | 2016 | $62,500 | To further STEM Funders Network. |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | 2004, 2006-2008, 2013, 2016 | $135,000 | For grant recipent's exempt purposes (2013, 2016) |
| Foundation 14 | 2008 | $5,000 | |
| Fritz And Adelaide Kauffmann Foundation Inc | 2005-2008, 2011-2013, 2015, 2017 | $280,000 | General Fund (2005); General Tax Exempt Purposes (2011-2013, 2015, 2017) |
| George And Patricia Wellde Foundation | 2007, 2012-2014 | $180,000 | General purpose fund (2012-2014) |
| Gloria And Sidney Danziger Foundation Inc | 2008 | $5,000 | General Support |
| Gold Family Foundation | 2004 | $5,000 | Cultural and educational advancement |
| Gordon E And Betty I Moore Foundation | 2014-2016 | $495,043 | In support of a White House Office of Science and Technology Policy fellow who will focus on building relationships among the science, informal science education, and Maker communities to help advance the Office's national goals for science and science l (2014-2016); To support the development of a plan to expand civil service fellowship opportunities (2016); In support of the Customer Service Index initiative to improve customer satisfaction with government services (2016) |
| Horace W Goldsmith Foundation | 2007 | $50,000 | |
| Howard B Bernick Foundation | 2008 | $5,000 | General support |
| James And Merryl Tisch Foundation Inc | 2004, 2006, 2008 | $30,000 | |
| Jerome & Anne C Fisher Charitable Foundation | 2003-2006 | $25,000 | General fund (2003-2005) |
| Jesselson Foundation | 2004 | $10,000 | |
| Jewish Communal Fund | 2004, 2005, 2009-2017 | $190,730 | Unrestricted general support (2010-2012); General support (2009, 2013, 2014) |
| Joel E Smilow Charitable Trust | 2005, 2008 | $25,000 | General operating support |
| John And Mary R Markle Foundation | 2005 | $10,000 | |
| Johnson & Johnson Family Of Companies Contribution Fund | 2007 | $10,000 | |
| Joseph & Florence Mandel Foundation | 2005-2008 | $30,000 | |
| Judy And Michael Steinhardt Foundation | 2003, 2004, 2008 | $15,000 | |
| Kadrovach/Duckworth Family Foundation | 2012 | $25,000 | General purpose fund |
| Kresge Foundation | 2016, 2017 | $252,000 | This grant will support the design and pilot implementation of capacity-building training for federal employees working in select high-poverty communities (promise zones) to improve collaboration and constructive problemsolving between federal and local |
| Lauder Foundation Inc | 2006, 2009 | $35,000 | To promote the work of the organization |
| Laura And John Arnold Foundation | 2016 | $729,223 | To identify measures that can improve operations at the office of management and budget (2016); To advance pay for success financing (2016) |
| Leeds Family Foundation | 2008 | $5,000 | |
| Leon Lowenstein Foundation Inc | 2008, 2009, 2014 | $15,000 | General support (2009, 2014) |
| Meckler Foundation Inc | 2003, 2006 | $15,000 | General support |
| Michael And Lynee Tarnopol Family Foundation Inc | 2005 | $4,490 | |
| Mitchell Kapor Foundation Dba Kapor Center For Social Impact | 2014, 2015, 2016 | $277,000 | For OSTP fellow (2014); Marvin CARR, OSTP fellow - Grant agreement 6/1/15-5/31/16 (2015); Quincy Brown, ostp fellow - grant agreement 7/18/16 -1/20/17 (2016) |
| Mnuchin Foundation | 2005 | $5,000 | |
| Mortimer Levitt Foundation Inc | 2003, 2005-2007 | $310,000 | Charitable Contribution (2003) |
| Nathan Cummings Foundation | 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011 | $35,000 | General support |
| New York Yankees Foundation Inc | 2007 | $5,000 | |
| Paul Singer Family Foundation | 2004 | $5,000 | |
| Peter G Peterson Foundation | 2010 | $35,000 | To support a conference promoting revitalization of the public service and improve government performance |
| Price Family Foundation Inc | 2003 | $10,000 | General support |
| Proteus Fund Inc | 2006, 2008 | $35,000 | For public education on revitalizing federal civil service (2006); General Support (2008) |
| Raether 1985 Charitable Trust | 2003 | $5,000 | General Charitable |
| Rfi Foundation | 2008, 2011 | $15,842 | Sponsorship of 2008 service to America medals (2008); General support (2011) |
| Richard And Hinda Rosenthal Foundation | 2008 | $5,000 | |
| Robert A And Renee E Belfer Family Foundation | 2006 | $9,550 | General support |
| Robert C Baker Foundation Inc | 2003 | $5,000 | General support |
| Robert K Steel Family Foundation | 2004, 2008, 2010-2012, 2014-2016 | $390,000 | General purpose fund (2012, 2014, 2015); Contributions were made to the general purpose fund of public charitable organization (2011); To the general purpose fund of Public charitable organizations that were classified under Section 501 (c) (3) of the internal revenue code (2010, 2016) |
| Robertson Foundation | 2008-2011 | $3,000,000 | Support for the organization's charitable purposes (2009); General Purpose (2010, 2011) |
| Robertson Foundation For Governmentinc | 2011 | $5,000 | General support |
| Rockefeller Brothers Fund Inc | 2003, 2007, 2009-2013, 2015, 2016 | $480,000 | To its research project, 'Inspiring a new generation to government service: understanding the communications challenge' (2003); Toward the costs of its Achieving Public Good Making Government and Philanthropy Effective Partners Conference (2009); For the development of a new business plan (2011); For a Pocantico conference that will establish a framework for management of the federal workforce in the next administration with an emphasis on ways to manage an effective presidential transition (2007, 2010-2013, 2015); For a conference at the pedantic center, ready to govern preparing to lead from day one (2016) |
| S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation | 2017 | $125,000 | Funds to support the Partnership in its efforts to strengthen the capacity, resiliency, and performance of the United States federal government during a critical time for our nation. |
| Samuel I Newhouse Foundation Inc | 2004-2006, 2008, 2009, 2011-2014, 2016 | $300,000 | To award artists w/ disabilities (2011); To promote its tax exempt purpose (2012-2014, 2016) |
| Schlosstein Hartley Foundation | 2005 | $5,000 | |
| Schwab Charitable Fund | 2015-2017 | $715,000 | Social Services/Social Benefits |
| Segal Family Foundation Inc | 2006, 2010 | $20,000 | Social Welfare |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | 2017 | $200,000 | Community Development |
| Smith Richardson Foundation Inc | 2009 | $20,095 | |
| Solow Foundation | 2003-2006 | $85,000 | Specific-Related to foundation's activity (2003-2005); Scientific purpose (2006) |
| The Annenberg Foundation | 2007-2010 | $3,999,980 | Walter and Leonore Annenberg federal leadership institute and the Walter and Leonore Annenberg public service speakers bureau |
| The Bloomberg Family Foundation Inc | 2016 | $300,000 | General operations |
| The David And Lucile Packard Foundation | 2010 | $40,000 | Organizational effectiveness and philanthropy |
| The Dorothea L Leonhardt Foundation Inc | 2005 | $5,000 | |
| The Eli And Edythe Broad Foundation | 2010-2012, 2014, 2015 | $847,000 | To support the development of strong innovative leaders at the US department of education (2010-2012); Professional development programs support (2014, 2015) |
| The Ford Foundation | 2006, 2015-2017 | $1,500,000 | For the Katrina anniversary campaign, a communications initiative to assess government successes and failures in responding to Katrina (2006); Core support for the ready to govern program to prepare incoming presidential administrations to lead the federal government more effectively (2015-2017) |
| The James Irvine Foundation | 2017 | $75,000 | To increase intergovernmental collaboration |
| The L.A.W. Foundation | 2006, 2008 | $20,000 | |
| The Ludwig Family Foundation Inc | 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015-2017 | $85,370 | For 2008 new york gala (2008); Ready to govern initiative (2012); Samuel J. Heyman service to America medals (2012, 2013); General operating support (2015-2017) |
| The Lynn And Jules Kroll Family Foundation | 2008 | $10,000 | General support |
| The Mandelbaum Foundation | 2003-2005, 2007, 2008 | $125,000 | General Support (2003) |
| The Marc Haas Foundation Inc | 2003-2010, 2012-2016 | $350,000 | General Support (2003, 2009, 2010, 2012-2016) |
| The Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation | 2004 | $10,000 | General support |
| The Rockefeller Foundation | 2009, 2010 | $240,000 | To foster Greater innovation in the US federal government (2009); For a forum on innovative problem-solving in the federal government (2010) |
| The Sage Foundation Inc | 2007-2012, 2014-2016 | $265,000 | General operating purpose |
| The Simons Foundation Inc | 2015 | $189,078 | Image of stem initiative |
| The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation | 2010, 2012, 2014-2017 | $810,000 | For strategic business planning (2010); For strengthening the department of educations career civil service leadership capacity (2012); For support of nonpartisan research and education on legislative branch rules and processes (2014, 2015); For general operating support (2016, 2017) |
| The Zients Family Foundation Inc | 2013, 2014, 2016 | $18,951 | General support (2013, 2014); Annual fund (2016) |
| Valerie & Charles Diker Fund | 2008 | $5,000 | General support |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | 2005, 2007, 2008 | $20,000 | Human services (2007); Support for civic projects (2008) |
References
- Partnership for Public Service. “Our Work.” Partnership for Public Service. Accessed September 16, 2019. https://ourpublicservice.org/our-work/.
- Partnership for Public Service. “Board and History.” Partnership for Public Service. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://ourpublicservice.org/about/board-and-history/.
- The Chronicle, 5/31/2007: The Best and the Brightest. Accessed September 17, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20091025091631/http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v19/i16/16002501.htm.
- “Committees and Caucuses.” Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, March 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190420183500/https://norton.house.gov/committees-and-caucuses.
- The Chronicle, 5/31/2007: The Best and the Brightest. Accessed September 17, 2019. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/The-Bestthe-Brightest/178043.
- “Joe Davidson – Joe Davidson’s Federal Diary.” The Washington Post. WP Company, February 10, 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020903479.html.
- Lewis, Michael. “’This Guy Doesn’t Know Anything’: the inside Story of Trump’s Shambolic Transition Team.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, September 27, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/sep/27/this-guy-doesnt-know-anything-the-inside-story-of-trumps-shambolic-transition-team.
- WashPostPR. “The Washington Post and Partnership for Public Service Launch Political Appointee Tracker.” The Washington Post. WP Company, February 28, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/pr/wp/2016/12/05/the-washington-post-and-partnership-for-public-service-launch-political-appointee-tracker/.
- “Trump Nominations Tracker: See Which Key Positions Have Been Filled so Far.” The Washington Post. WP Company. Accessed September 19, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-administration-appointee-tracker/database/.
- Partnership for Public Service. “Call to Serve: Colleges and Universities.” Partnership for Public Service. Accessed September 19, 2019. https://ourpublicservice.org/programs/call-to-serve-colleges-and-universities/#resources.
- “Other Strategies To Meet Hiring Requirements .” OPM.gov, September 2005. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/human-capital-management/reference-materials/talent-management/strategies.pdf.
- “Stephen Barr – Honoring the Stars of Government.” The Washington Post. WP Company, February 27, 2007. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/26/AR2007022601228.html.
- Heyman, Samuel J. “Program Overview and History.” Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://servicetoamericamedals.org/about/.
- Partnership for Public Service. “Excellence in Government Fellows Program.” Partnership for Public Service. Accessed September 19, 2019. https://ourpublicservice.org/programs/excellence-in-government-fellows-program/.
- Partnership for Public Service. “Board and History.” Partnership for Public Service. Accessed September 17, 2019. https://ourpublicservice.org/about/board-and-history/.
- Silva, Chantal Da. “Who Is Max Stier? CEO of Government Reform Non-Profit Named as Witness of Alleged Brett Kavanaugh Misconduct at Yale Party.” Newsweek, September 16, 2019. https://www.newsweek.com/max-stier-brett-kavanaugh-allegations-yale-university-1459373?cid=pt&source=ams&sourceId=4982034.
- Stier, Max. “Foundations: However Much You Disagree With Trump, Don’t Abandon Government.” The Chronicle of Philanthropy, August 22, 2017. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Opinion-Foundations/240976?cid=pt&source=ams&sourceId=4982034
- Sherman, Mark. “A Look at the Revived Allegations against Justice Kavanaugh.” AP NEWS. Associated Press, September 16, 2019. https://www.apnews.com/0ab183dbb4474c58b2baee739c7d92ae.
- Blake, Aaron. “Trump, Brett Kavanaugh and What He Wrote in the Starr Report about Impeaching Presidents.” The Washington Post. WP Company, July 11, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/07/11/brett-kavanaugh-trump-and-what-the-starr-report-says-about-impeachment-annotated/.
- Fuchs, Hailey, Hailey Fuchs, Britton O’Daly, and Isabel Bysiewicz. “While Kavanaugh Was a Member, DKE Flew under the Radar.” Yale Daily News While Kavanaugh was a member DKE flew under the radar Comments. Accessed September 20, 2019. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/07/16/while-kavanaugh-was-a-member-dke-flew-under-the-radar/.
- Pogrebin, Robin, and Kate Kelly. “Brett Kavanaugh Fit In With the Privileged Kids. She Did Not.” The New York Times. The New York Times, September 14, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/14/sunday-review/brett-kavanaugh-deborah-ramirez-yale.html
- Chaitin, Daniel. “New York Times sinks its Kavanaugh claim with Editor’s Note stating alleged victim ‘does not recall the incident.’” The Washington Examiner, September 16, 2019. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/new-york-times-updates-kavanaugh-report-to-note-alleged-sexual-misconduct-victim-is-said-to-not-recall-the-incident
- Re, Gregg. “NYT updates Kavanaugh ‘bombshell’ to note accuser doesn’t recall alleged assault.” Fox News, September 16, 2019. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nyt-kavanaugh-bombshell-goes-bust-after-2020-dems-use-it-to-call-for-impeachment
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Partnership for Public Service. 2017. Schedule A, Part I. Lines 12, 18, 22.
- “USAspending.gov.” USAspending.gov. Accessed October 3, 2019. https://www.usaspending.gov/#/recipient/1081da8d-0442-eced-1b22-1c0c7df5f454-P.
- Information provided by FoundationSearch. Partnership for Public Service. Accessed September 27, 2019. www.FoundationSearch.com