Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation

Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation based in Cincinatti, Ohio.The organization is named for Lovett and Ruth Peters, the parents of current president Daniel S. Peters. L. Peters was heavily involved in the oil and gas industry, and also founded the Pioneer Institute at age 75, a member of State Policy Network, a network of conservative think tanks across the country. D. Peters described his father's values in Lovett's Boston Globe obituary:

"Mr. Peters was fervent in his belief in the supremacy of the free market, limited government, and the importance of education for all."

The foundation primarily donates money to conservative think tanks, such as State Policy Network, and DonorsTrust, a Koch brothers backed organization to distribute funds to right-wing groups. Its other cause is geared towards reforming public education by supporting privatization of education through voucher schools, private schools, charter schools, and organizations with the same values, keeping with L. Peters value of a strong education. Some of these organizations include Alliance for School Choice and the Center for Education Reform.

Peters spent 17 years in executive positions at Procter & Gamble, who was a member of ALEC's Private Enterprise Board, until they cut ties in April 2012.

Ties to DonorsTrust, State Policy Network, Philanthropy Roundtable

In 2011 alone, the foundation donated just under to $800,000 to State Policy Network think tanks and its associate members, including the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Commonwealth Foundation, and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Many of the associate members who received funds are organizations in favor of charter schools, voucher programs, and school choice programs, such as Alliance for School Choice and the Center for Education Reform.

Peters is also a board member of Philanthropy Roundtable, an organization established by the Bradley Foundation to facilitate donations to conservative think tanks and organizations. Peters also chaired the Roundtable from 2002 to 2008. The foundation also donated $60,000 to Philanthropy Roundtable from 2009-2011. Peters expressed how his foundation has benefitted from its association with Philanthropy Roundtable:

"Let me turn briefly to The Philanthropy Roundtable—where I serve as a board member. I love the Roundtable because of the opportunity to network and learn from fellow entrepreneurs and philanthropists. I also appreciate the Roundtable’s K–12 education programs (our area of focus at the Peters Foundation). Let me just say that, if you can find a better program for philanthropists focused on reforming K–12 education, please let me know."

Between 2009 and 2011, Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation has donated $375,000 to DonorsTrust, where donors can separate a large sum of funds to separate accounts to distribute to various right-wing causes. However, this process makes it extremely difficult to locate the true donor, and make it easy for wealthy individuals and corporations to hide their distributions when "funding sensitive or controversial issues."

Groups Funded

2011

Of the $1,524,500 given in contributions from Lovett & Ruth Peters Foundation, just under $820,000 were made to members in State Policy Network. Other contributions include but are not limited to:

• Alliance for School Choice received $50,000.
• American Enterprise Institute received $25,000.
• Aspire Public Schools received $30,000.
• Atlas Economic Research Foundation received $35,000.
• Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, received $52,000.
• Cato Institute received $5,000.
• Center for Civil Society received $10,000.
• Center for Education Reform received $20,000.
• Charles River Center received $25,000.
• Commonwealth Foundation received $25,000.
• DonorsTrust received $150,000.
• Foundation for Economic Education received $25,000.
• Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice received $25,000.
• Hillsdale College received $25,000.
• Hispanic CREO received $50,000.
• Innosight Institute received $105,000.
• Innovative Learning Stratagems received $25,000.
• Institute for Human Studies at George Mason University received $10,000.
• Mackinac Center for Public Policy received $25,000.
• Manhattan Institute for Policy Research received $10,000.
• National Center for Policy Analysis received $50,000.
• New Common School Foundation received $50,000.
• North American Council for Online Learning received $100,000
• Ohio Association of Public Charter Schools received $10,000.
• Pacific Research Institute received $120,000.
• Philanthropy Roundtable received $25,000.
• Pioneer Institute received $202,500.
• Prometheus Institute received $25,000.
• Reason Foundation received $25,000.
• School Choice Ohio received $50,000.
• State Policy Network received $10,000.
• Success Charter Network received $100,000.
• Thomas B. Fordham Foundation received $5,000.

2010

Of the $1,070,000 in contributions made, $660,000 were made to organizations affiliated with State Policy Network. Other contributions include but are not limited to:

• Agudath Israel received $100,000.
• American Enterprise Institute received $40,000.
• Atlas Economic Research Foundation received $20,000.
• Brighter Choice Foundation received $25,000.
• Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions received $100,000.
• Cato Institute received $5,000.
• Center for Education Reform received $25,000.
• Center for Excellence in Higher Education received $10,000.
• Charles River Center received $20,000.
• Children's Scholarship Fund of Greater Cincinatti received $30,000.
• Commonwealth Foundation received $25,000.
• Education Reform Now received $100,000.
• Foundation for Educational Choice received $55,000.
• Heritage Foundation received $25,000.
• Innosight Institute received $15,000.
• Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University received $10,000.
• Mackinac Center for Public Policy received $25,000.
• Manhattan Institute for Policy Research received $10,000.
• National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation received $40,000.
• North American Council for Online Learning received $40,000.
• Ohio Association of Public Charter Schools received $25,000.
• Pacific Research Institute received $120,000.
• Parents for Educational Freedom in NC received $20,000.
• Pioneer Institute received $100,000.
• Promethius Institute received $25,000.
• Reason Foundation received $25,000.
• State Policy Network received $35,000.

2009

Of the $1, 624,000 made in contributions, $775,000 was made to members of the State Policy Network, with Donors Trust receiving the largest grant at $225,000. Other contributions include:

• Agudath Israel received $170,000.
• Alliance for School Choice received $50,000.
• American Enterprise Institute received $15,000.
• Americans for Tax Reform received $50,000.
• Aquinas Education Trust received $75,000.
• Brighter Choice Foundation received $50,000.
• Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions received $50,000.
• Center for Education Reform received $25,000.
• Children's Scholarship Fund of Greater Cincinatti received $25,000.
• DonorsTrust received $225,000.
• Education Reform Now received $70,000.
• Foundation for the Carolinas received $10,000.
• Heritage Foundation received $25,000.
• Hillsdale College received $104,000.
• Innovative Learning Systems $25,000.
• James Madison Institute received $10,000.
• Landmark Legal Foundation received $50,000.
• Mackinac Center for Public Policy received $50,000.
• Milton & Rose Friedman Foundation received $50,000.
• National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation received $40,000.
• Ohio Association of Public Charter Schools received $10,000.
• Pacific Research Institute received $70,000.
• Philanthropy Roundtable received $50,000.
• Pioneer Institute received $100,000.
• Prometheus Institute received $25,000.
• Reason Foundation received $25,000.
• School Choice Ohio received $50,000.
• State Policy Network received $10,000.
• Students for Liberty received $5,000.
• Success Charter Network received $100,000.

Key Personnel

According to the 2011 IRS filing, their staff members include:

• Daniel S. Peters, President
• Kathleen Peters, trustee
• Ed Kirby, trustee
• Stephanie Saroki, trustee

Contact

1500 Chiquita Center, 250 E. 5th St
Cincinatti, OH 45202
(513) 562-1550