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A message from the editor

It was César Ritz, founder of the hotels bearing his name, who first remarked that, “Le client n’a jamais tort” – the customer is never wrong. Sticking to this dictum has two consequences for Philanthropy Management magazine: one good; one not so good. On an upbeat note, since we began publication a year ago, we have been well-received by our target readership – those involved in giving or distributing private money for public good. While some positive comment may be an expression of politeness, the response has been very pleasing. It seems that we have been filling a gap in the market for information on making the intermediary roles in philanthropy as efficient as possible.

A less pleasing consequence for us derives from a keyword in the last sentence. That word is ‘market’. In the absence of a benefactor or some other form of non-commercial sponsorship, a successful publishing venture must generally be sustained from one of two sources: subscriptions and/or advertisers. Unfortunately, we have not succeeded in attracting sufficient of either to continue in our present form. It is with some regret, therefore, that Philanthropy Management is suspending publication.

If the demand really exists, we will perhaps find a way to revive PM at some point in the future. In the meantime, I would like to thank all those who helped to make the four editions we published a rewarding read.

The Austrian-Swiss physicist Wolfgang Ernst Pauli, winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1945, is reported to have said to one unfortunate scientific adversary, “I don't mind your thinking slowly; I mind your publishing faster than you think.”

I’m off to have a think…

Richard Schwartz

Founding editor

Philanthropy Management