Robert Otto Bothwell

Robert (Bob) Otto Bothwell died on May 7, 2024, of complications from Lewy Body Dementia. Bothwell was the first Executive Director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) a role he served in for 22 years. NCRP's website says: "For more than three decades, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy has served as an advocate for nonprofits, a watchdog of foundations, an advisor to government, and a resource for the media. Through its efforts, NCRP continues to show the tremendous need for accountability, transparency, and dedication to social justice within the philanthropic sector."

Under Bothwell's direction, NCRP organized alternative community funds to compete with local United Ways to give more charities access to cost-effective workplace giving. Bothwell successfully organized a powerful 12-year coalition to open the Combined Federal Campaign for advocacy and social justice organizations. Congresswoman Pat Schoeder (D-CO) and Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD) were instrumental in this major win. In addition to creating alternative funds, NCRP-like coalitions were established in the US, Canada, Japan, and Bulgaria, to advocate for changes to the giving patterns of regional, state, and local foundations, United Ways, and governments.

Bothwell was an outspoken critic of traditional foundations and corporate grant-making. The joke about Bob Bothwell was that he was willing to "bite the hand that fed him" and on many occasions he did just that. During Bothwell's tenure, NCRP issued over 40 reports backed by intensive research on grant-making to nontraditional charities, and the rise of conservative think tanks at the state and local level. Many of NCRP's early predictions about these think tanks have played out in the last 20 years with a rise in conservative-driven gerrymandering and Republican control of state legislatures.

Bothwell was notorious for his temper and willingness to broach subjects that were considered taboo in the sometimes-hot house world of philanthropy. A list of NCRP's board of directors in 1981 is a "Who's Who" of social justice advocates across the spectrum, from Grey Panthers, to gay, women, and civil rights activists and organizers; NCRP was a powerful voice. Bothwell was a passionate believer in civil society, after leaving NCRP, he worked with US Supporters of Civil Society in Russia (funded in part by Alexi Navalny), along with Youth Today and Plexus.

Bothwell served in the US Navy after being in ROTC and resigned his commission in protest over the Vietnam War in 1965. In his later years, Bothwell recalled his time in the Navy quite fondly. Born in Cincinnati, OH, on September 17, 1937, Bothwell graduated from Western Hills High School as "Best Boy" as voted by the faculty for his combination of scholarship, athleticism, and community service. Bothwell was the city-wide tennis champion in Cincinnati in 1953 and the runner-up in 1955. Bothwell earned a BA in political science from Ohio State University, where he played varsity tennis all four years. Bothwell subsequently earned an MS in political science at Indiana University.

Out of graduate school, Bothwell did stints at NASA, then moved to the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) where his latent passion for supporting the marginalized, the poor, and the excluded ignited. At OEO, Bob worked closely with newly formed Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in several of the poorest counties in rural Eastern Kentucky and in Louisville, pushing them to involve and empower low-income residents. Countering resistance from one CAA, Bob designed and processed the first OEO grant ever made directly to a low-income grassroots group that sought to influence the CAA.

After stints with the National Urban Coalition and working on school finance reform to ensure poor children would no longer be marginalized, Bob became the first Executive Director of NCRP, a post he held for over 22 years. Bob's papers from NCRP are housed in the Archives of the Library at Indiana University.



In retirement, Bob continued his public service, feeding the homeless in Alexandria at The Carpenter's Shelter with his daughter, Maria, and his son-in-law, Jeff. In 2016, residents at the shelter nominated Maria and Bob to be the "shelter's team" for a benefit cookoff with over 20 restaurants in Alexandria. Ever fierce competitors, Maria, Bob, Jeff, and Suzy and Dave Slade won the Honorary Grand Prize of the competition as Café Carpenter.

Bob is survived by his wife of 42 years, Sharon Benjamin-Bothwell, PhD, his daughter, Maria Bothwell, son-in-law, Jeff Kline, daughter-in-law, Laurie Bothwell, MD, son-in-law, Keith Burgess, grandchildren, Max Kline and Amelia Bothwell, his sister Joyce Buch and her husband Mark Buch, and a host of nieces and nephews. Bob is predeceased by his son, Thomas Bothwell (2002), first wife Jill Schrote Pfeifer (2009), older brother, Harry Bothwell (2004), and sister Gloria Bothwell (1935). Bob loved dogs and lived with many, most notably, nine Irish Wolfhounds.

A memorial service will be held at the Athenaeum in Alexandria on June 3, 2024, at 11:00AM. There will be a private interment later.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bob's honor to the Carpenter's Shelter in Alexandria, VA.