Would Philanthropies Today Fund W.E.B. Du Bois’s Encyclopedia Africana?
Many contemporary foundations would want to tell you that, yes, unlike their predecessors, they would. But is that right?
Is For-Profit the Future of Non-Profit?
The troubling allure of turning philanthropy into consumer activity
How a Zagat-Style Website Will Make Philanthropy More Accountable
"Philamplify" features not only crowd-sourced reviews but in-depth, expert evaluations as well.
The Right Way and the Wrong Way to Privatize Science
This isn't America's first time seeing an infusion of personal wealth getting poured into research, but the last time around, it was done more democratically.
How U.S. Philanthropy Is Inspiring Foreigners to Give
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have made it their mission to export American-style philanthropy—formalized, systematic, and professionalized giving done in the public eye—with mixed results.
Philanthropists and the White House: Who's the Boss?
Once, it was elite donors who courted the president. Today, it's precisely the reverse.
How Should Philanthropies Respond to Emergencies?
For the foundations that have pledged millions to resuscitate Detroit, does the funding commit them to a long-term engagement or is it a one-time rescue mission?
The Importance of Criticizing Philanthropy
An aggressive—even at times an antagonistic—engagement between the public and their benefactors shouldn’t be considered a mark of incivility. It should be considered a democratic imperative.
Dirty Money: From Rockefeller to Koch
Catholic University's decision to accept $1 million from the Charles Koch Foundation to support the study of "principled entrepreneurship" is like a modern-day reenactment of 1905's "tainted money affair."
Why the Rich Don't Give to Charity
The wealthiest Americans donate 1.3 percent of their income; the poorest, 3.2 percent. What's up with that?
Can 4 Economists Build the Most Economically Efficient Charity Ever?
GiveDirectly, the brainchild of four Harvard and MIT graduate students, is so simple, it's genius. Give poor Kenyan families $1,000 -- and let them do whatever they want with it.
Is Philanthropy Print Journalism's Last Hope?
The Ford Foundation recently pledged $1.04 million to Los Angeles' struggling daily. We might be looking at the future of newspapers.