Karl Zinsmeister is the author of 13 books—reporting, histories, political analysis, a novel, reference works, literary collections, academic volumes, a storytelling cookbook, even a book-length Marvel comic book—and editor of many more. His journalism totals several hundred pieces, published in many national publications—from cover stories for The Atlantic to essays in the Wall Street Journal, where he is a frequent contributor.
He is currently a writer and executive at the Philanthropy Roundtable, a Washington, D.C. organization that helps foundations, corporations, and major living donors be effective and efficient in their giving. Private philanthropic enterprise now approaches a trillion dollars annually in donated funds and time, and is central to American civic health. Among other responsibilities, Zinsmeister is editor in chief of the Roundtable’s magazine, and oversees its extensive publishing operations. He also established its program in philanthropy for veterans and servicemembers. His "Sweet Charity" podcast presents 5-10 minute episodes on important achievements in philanthropic creativity. He authors and edits a series of "Wise Giver's Guides" that offer donors practical help in specific fields. The books he has authored himself for the Roundtable include one analyzing charter schools, and another on the relationship between philanthropy and public policy.
After several years of research and writing, Zinsmeister debuted The Almanac of American Philanthropy, his authoritative 1,342-page reference on our nation's powerful tradition of private giving. It is often referred to as "the bible" on this important subject. The Compact Edition of The Almanac of American Philanthropy is a condensed version of this encyclopedic reference.
Days after the 2016 election Zinsmeister released his political/historical work What Comes Next? It describes how America can continue to be dramatically improved even amidst political gridlock. He is now completing an imaginative history of two Wall Street entrepreneurs who, during the Jacksonian era, became the most effective culture reformers in American history.
Days after the 2016 election Zinsmeister released his political/historical work What Comes Next? It describes how America can continue to be dramatically improved even amidst political gridlock. He is now completing an imaginative history of two Wall Street entrepreneurs who, during the Jacksonian era, became the most effective culture reformers in American history.
Powerful national improvement is within reach even if Washington remains frozen tundra for the near future.
From 2006 to 2009 Zinsmeister served in the West Wing as President George W. Bush’s chief domestic policy adviser. His responsibilities stretched across many issues: the formulation of new immigration policies, the mortgage and student-loan credit crises, stem-cell and biotechnology innovation, improving care for military veterans, school reform, issues in health, transportation, environmental quality, and national competitiveness.
For nearly 13 years Zinsmeister was editor-in-chief of The American Enterprise, a national monthly magazine of politics, business, and culture based in Washington, D.C. Author and former Cabinet Secretary William Bennett called it “one of America’s finest magazines.... intellectually interesting, well-written, lively, wide-ranging, and above all useful.” Zinsmeister wrote nearly 300 articles for the magazine, and conducted interviews with public figures ranging from Rudy Giuliani to Pat Moynihan, Andres Duany to Rupert Murdoch.
For nearly 13 years Zinsmeister was editor-in-chief of The American Enterprise, a national monthly magazine of politics, business, and culture based in Washington, D.C. Author and former Cabinet Secretary William Bennett called it “one of America’s finest magazines.... intellectually interesting, well-written, lively, wide-ranging, and above all useful.” Zinsmeister wrote nearly 300 articles for the magazine, and conducted interviews with public figures ranging from Rudy Giuliani to Pat Moynihan, Andres Duany to Rupert Murdoch.
This storytelling cookbook, created with two of his children,
pays homage to the rich culture and history of their home region.
His two influential Iraq War books were written during four lengthy stints as a journalist embedded with infantry troops in urban war zones. Boots on the Ground (2003) was the first book published by an embedded writer; Dawn Over Baghdad (2004) was the first book to provide details on the U.S. counterinsurgency effort. At the invitation of Marvel Comics, Zinsmeister also wrote a non-fiction graphic novel entitled Combat Zone (2005) that chronicled the actions of actual American soldiers.
Finger Lakes Feast is his storytelling cookbook and beautifully photographed regional culture guide, which he co-created with his daughter and son. It was praised by the New York Times and other reviewers.
In concert with his wife Ann, Zinsmeister conceived and produced a feature documentary film entitled Warriors that aired nationally on PBS in 2007. The film won $450,000 of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in a major international competition. It presented personal profiles of America’s fighting forces via on-the-scene footage that Zinsmeister and two combat cameramen shot in Iraq, and was described as "entirely compelling" by the New York Times.
For a decade, Zinsmeister occupied the J. B. Fuqua Chair at Washington, D.C.'s American Enterprise Institute, where he researched economic, demographic, and cultural topics.
In the private sector, Zinsmeister was an executive in his native region of upstate New York at the Stickley company—an historic firm that designs, manufactures, and markets iconic American Arts & Crafts furniture designs worldwide. His responsibilities included marketing and sales, advertising, catalogs, photography, websites, communications, the Stickley Museum, some product design, and the modernization of many business and data systems. Zinsmeister has also operated his own businesses over a period of years, including designing, financing, renovating, and building eight properties with historic appeal, in Washington and New York.
Finger Lakes Feast is his storytelling cookbook and beautifully photographed regional culture guide, which he co-created with his daughter and son. It was praised by the New York Times and other reviewers.
In concert with his wife Ann, Zinsmeister conceived and produced a feature documentary film entitled Warriors that aired nationally on PBS in 2007. The film won $450,000 of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in a major international competition. It presented personal profiles of America’s fighting forces via on-the-scene footage that Zinsmeister and two combat cameramen shot in Iraq, and was described as "entirely compelling" by the New York Times.
For a decade, Zinsmeister occupied the J. B. Fuqua Chair at Washington, D.C.'s American Enterprise Institute, where he researched economic, demographic, and cultural topics.
In the private sector, Zinsmeister was an executive in his native region of upstate New York at the Stickley company—an historic firm that designs, manufactures, and markets iconic American Arts & Crafts furniture designs worldwide. His responsibilities included marketing and sales, advertising, catalogs, photography, websites, communications, the Stickley Museum, some product design, and the modernization of many business and data systems. Zinsmeister has also operated his own businesses over a period of years, including designing, financing, renovating, and building eight properties with historic appeal, in Washington and New York.
A graduate of Yale University, Zinsmeister did further studies at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. During college he won national rowing championships in both the U.S. and Ireland.
He was a U.S. Senate aide to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, has been an adviser to many public policy groups, and has testified before Congressional committees and Presidential commissions on topics ranging from family issues to economic policy to the Iraq war.
He has given hundreds of public lectures, originated a weekly radio commentary syndicated nationally to 100 stations, and has appeared often on a wide variety of national television and radio programs. He has lived, worked, or traveled in 40 countries, and nearly every U.S. state. He holds the highest U.S. security clearance.
Zinsmeister is married and has three grown children. He is an active outdoorsman, enjoys extended wilderness backpacking trips, and bicycles, sculls, kayaks, skis cross-country and downhill. He has been an avid woodworker, photographer, gardener and keeper of hens, taught Sunday school, and sung in church choirs. He currently lives on a houseboat in Washington, D.C.
He was a U.S. Senate aide to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, has been an adviser to many public policy groups, and has testified before Congressional committees and Presidential commissions on topics ranging from family issues to economic policy to the Iraq war.
He has given hundreds of public lectures, originated a weekly radio commentary syndicated nationally to 100 stations, and has appeared often on a wide variety of national television and radio programs. He has lived, worked, or traveled in 40 countries, and nearly every U.S. state. He holds the highest U.S. security clearance.
Zinsmeister is married and has three grown children. He is an active outdoorsman, enjoys extended wilderness backpacking trips, and bicycles, sculls, kayaks, skis cross-country and downhill. He has been an avid woodworker, photographer, gardener and keeper of hens, taught Sunday school, and sung in church choirs. He currently lives on a houseboat in Washington, D.C.
