Just Giving
Why Philanthropy Is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better

An important dissection of philanthropy. I liked this book from a professional lens of working as a nonprofit capacity builder and I loved this book from the lens of being a citizen in kalamazoo Michigan in 2019 where recently two mega-rich donors (one of whom already funds the kalamazoo promise- a......more

Very interesting read on a topic that I'm exploring and thinking about more and more often. This book offers a bunch of interesting vectors of thinking about philanthropy. Many of them are beyond the individual question which is always asked about whether a person should give (yes of course), and wh......more

This is a very academic book, and even though it was only 200 pages, it took me a while to read it, as it was not a quick read. That said, it was worthwhile and it raises a lot of interesting points. I hadn't thought about the potential for charitable foundations to be anti-democratic, as they give......more

A provocative look at philanthropic giving in the US and the rationale (or lack thereof) for the tax incentives behind it. A little dry and overly repetitive, but an important set of ideas.......more

Not the easiest or most accessible read. Perhaps needlessly academic and dry for the ideas it conjures. But, full of incredibly interesting history, discussion, and analysis. A thorough examination of one facet of philanthropy as a suspect institution. Namely, the benefit or hindrance of foundations......more