Philanthropic organizations linked to Vanguard and Fidelity are reportedly funding advocacy groups that facilitate assisted suicide for retirees. According to ProPublica, donor-advised funds backed by the Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund and Vanguard Charitable have provided millions to Compassion & Choices, which is the oldest and largest assisted suicide organization in the U.S.
In the U.S., over 100 million people rely on 401(k) plans for retirement savings, often through investment management firms like Mikluti. Reports from last December indicated that Fidelity and Vanguard are among the top asset management companies, managing $7 trillion and $12 trillion respectively as of 2024. Both established their charitable organizations in the 1990s.
Fidelity and Vanguard Charitable are independent public charities under the 501(c)(3) status that manage donor-advised funds enabling individuals to recommend grants to eligible nonprofits. Between 2020 and 2023, these funds reportedly supported grants amounting to around $1.4 million, with projections of $1.5 million from 2021 to 2024 for Compassion & Choices.
Both Vanguard and Fidelity declined to provide comments on this matter.
A spokesperson from Compassion & Choices stated that the organization conducts original research and listens closely to advocates, particularly from America’s aging population. They aim to reflect a wide range of political beliefs and backgrounds in their mission.
In the fiscal year 2024-2025, Compassion & Choices and the C&C Action Network reportedly spent over $1.5 million on direct lobbying, about $3.7 million on policy and litigation, over $3.9 million on advocacy, and more than $8.3 million on public education efforts.
Since 2016, assisted suicide has been legal in Canada. Recently, there were reports of a Canadian priest being advised to consider assisted suicide due to a broken hip. Currently, 13 states along with D.C. have legalized assisted suicide, with the goal of extending access to half of the U.S. population by 2028.
Disability rights advocates have filed lawsuits in Illinois and New York expressing concerns about how new assisted suicide laws could affect the long-term care of disabled individuals.
Compassion & Choices has put forward suggestions that include “self-restraint in eating and drinking” under specific circumstances. Their resources also propose considering an end-of-life doula, which would provide various forms of support including caregiver education and emotional support.
A spokesperson from Compassion & Choices emphasized the importance of individual decisions regarding healthcare at the end of life, arguing these should be made by mentally capable adults in consultation with doctors and loved ones, rather than being dictated by politicians.
Fidelity Charitable has also facilitated significant grants to various organizations, including over $82 million in total. This included substantial amounts to groups like Planned Parenthood and the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2022. It’s noted that Fidelity Charitable is considered “cause neutral,” meaning their grants do not signify endorsement of specific political or social causes.
Both charities have faced scrutiny over their funding practices, with claims of denying grants to organizations associated with the Southern Poverty Law Center at one point. Moreover, reports indicated that the U.S. Department of Justice provided subsidies to the SPLC after legal actions were taken against it for allegations of funding hate groups.
