Philanthropisms

Send us a textIn this episode, Rhod talks to author and historian Maribel Morey about her new book White Philanthropy: Carnegie Corporation's 'An American Dilemma' and the Making of a White World Order. Including:What is "An American Dilemma" and what role has it played in the history of thinking about race in the US?What are some of the contemporary and subsequent critiques of the report?Why do we need to re-evaluate the role of the Carnegie Corporation in shaping the development and eventual narrative of "An American Dilemma"?How does the origin of "An American Dilemma" fit into the wider global context of imperialism at the time?Is the role of the people who administer philanthropic wealth (the “philanthropoids”) too often underappreciated in historical study?Were Carnegie Corporation figures like Frederick Keppel and James Betram genuinely trying to interpret Andrew Carnegie’s wishes as they understood them, or were they using their roles as amanuenses to impose their own views?Can the Carnegie Corporation’s support for “An American Dilemma” be interpreted as a highly successful example of “upstream philanthropy” i.e. funding research or analysis that sets the parameters for public debate and policy formation?Can we learn lessons today about how philanthropy can influence long-term change?What can the example of Carnegie Corporation and "An American Dilemma" tell us about current debates over the tension between incrementalism and radicalism in philanthropy? Would it have been better in the long run if progressive foundations that pursued assimilationist approaches or which viewed racial equality as a process that involved Black Americans increasingly conforming to White norms had simply stayed away from race as an issue altogether?How widespread and acceptable among philanthropists and foundations of the first half of the C20th was the view that eugenics and forced population control were part of the solution to the “race problem”?Does there need to be more of a reckoning with this history?What value can a historical perspective can bring to philanthropists, funders and non-profit professionals?Are there limits to the utility of historical comparison in understanding the present? Related Links:Maribel's book White PhilanthropyMaribel's personal websiteThe Miami Institute for the Social Sciences, where Maribel is Founding Executive DirectorHistPhil (where Maribel is co-Editor)"Behind the Scenes of White Philanthropy", Maribel's article for HistPhil"Julius Rosenwald Was Not a Hero", Maribel's 2017 HistPhil articlePhilanthropisms podcast with Ben Soskis"Why Study the History of Philanthropy?", Rhod's 2020 CAF blog

Send us a textIn this episode Rhod talks to Edgar Villanueva, author of "Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance" about why many of our current models of philanthropy reflect structures and approaches that disempower and disadvantage minoritised communities and how things need to change to address this problematic legacy. Including:Why is it important that philanthropy acknowledges and addresses the fact that it almost always reflects structures and systems that contain racial bias and that have historically disadvantaged marginalised communities? What do those working in philanthropy need to do in practice? And are there signs of the kinds of change that is needed taking place?Is racial injustice such a big/cross-cutting issue that it should not be seen as a cause area, but rather as something that is the responsibility of ALL philanthropic funders and nonprofits?In trying to convince philanthropic funders of the need to acknowledge issues of racial justice, is it better to make a moral case (i.e. that they should do it because it is “the right thing to do”) or a practical one (i.e. that it will make them more effective as grantmakers to reflect and share power with the people and communities they are trying to support)?Should we be optimistic that the current recognition of the need to apply a racial justice lens across philanthropy will be maintained?What does it mean to say that “money can be medicine”? What do philanthropists and funders need to do to ensure their money heals rather than harms?How can foundations use all of their assets (including investments, property etc) to work towards decolonization?What is the importance of story as medicine? How can we ensure that decision making within traditional forms of philanthropy is shifted towards the people and communities who would have been seen as the traditional ‘beneficiaries’? (E.g. through participatory means?)Does it present a challenge to decolonizing philanthropy if  those who agree with your arguments feel defensive about their implications? How do we overcome this challenge?A lot of the recent focus when it comes to addressing racial justice issues has been less on traditional nonprofits, and more on things like mutual aid networks and networked social movements. Is part of the enthusiasm for these new forms of giving down to frustration with traditional nonprofit approaches, which are often perceived not to have changed quickly enough? Why is the mainstream nonprofit world not good at learning from other giving cultures (does it reflect an exceptionalist mindset)? And how can we get better?The book argues for a pragmatic approach to improving philanthropy (i.e. working with existing structures to improve them),rather than “burning everything to the ground” as some more radical voices argue we should. Why is that the case? Is it sometimes difficult to maintain pragmatism?Related links:The Decolonizing Wealth Project website (including links to Decolonizing Wealth, 2nd Edition)The "Rewriting the Rules of Philanthropy" event, hosted by Giving Tuesday, which Edgar and Rhod both took part in.Abigail Echo-Hawk,  chief research officer of the Seattle Indian Health Board, on "decolonizing data"Rhod's blog "Language Barriers: why the ways in which we talk about philanthropy

Send us a textIn this episode we take a look at some of the key issues and trends affecting philanthropy and civil society right now and offer some thoughts on what to watch out for over the coming year. Including:Ongoing pandemic uncertainty/"normalisation" rather than an endingWill changes in norms re remote/flexible working become established? What will this mean for civil society in terms of both opportunities and challenges?Individual burnout and organisational closureThe climate crisis: do all CSOs/funders need to be doing more?Racial justice: will the focus continue, or is there a danger of it being seen as a "moment" that has passed?Political hostility towards civil society around the globe- further closing of civil society space, new restrictions on foreign funding etc?Is there a decline in giving? Are we increasingly reliant on a smaller pool of donors?Are people giving in new ways that we are failing to count? Does this matter?Will we see more elite philanthropy supporting efforts to develop everyday giving?Impact measurement scepticismCore cost funding, trust-based philanthropyDebate over timeframes (immediacy vs long-term view) Scrutiny of sources of wealth.Continuing criticism of philanthropy, pushback on criticism; more division within philanthropyThe "platformisation" of giving?New cybersecurity threatsAI implications: productivity tools, new ways of giving, new challeges to address, need for civil society to have a voice in debate over AI development.Cryptocurrency & blockchain: Rise of cryptophilanthropy (who are crypto-donors, what makes them tick?), can CSOs harness the NFT market (or is it a dangerous bubble?)The Metaverse: what opportunities & challenges might it bring for CSOs?Related Links:Rhod's essay for the Law Family Commission on Civil SocietyRhod's blog about Elon Musk's philanthropyRhod in the New York Times talking about Elon MuskRhod's blog on philanthropy, civil society & the MetaverseRhod's blog on Mackenzie ScottRhod's article for Catalyst on how AI will affect  charitiesRhod's article for the World Economic Forum "Where Are Charities in the Great AI Debate?"

Send us a textIn this episode Rhod talks to Ben Soskis, a Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy and co-Editor of the website HistPhil.org, about the big issues and themes in US philanthropy over the last few years and where things might go in the future. Including:How has the pandemic shifted perceptions of philanthropy in the US over the short term? Are those perceptions likely to get better or worse over the longer-term, post pandemic?Mackenzie Scott: What are the most interesting/encouraging things about her emergence as a major philanthropist? What are the main questions that still need answering? Has she had an impact on the general public perception of philanthropy?Elon Musk: Is he the world's first "Troll Philanthropist"? What does his emergence as a major giver mean for the norms of philanthropic discourse? Bill Gates: Has any of the controversy over the Gates Foundation’s involvement in vaccine development had an effect on the overall narrative about philanthropy in the US?Have the norms around time horizons in philanthropy shifted as a result of the pandemic? i.e. will we see more calls for foundations to spend down their endowments?Why are a growing number of elite donors/institutional funders interested in supporting the growth of everyday giving? What opportunities (and potential challenges) does the involvement of big money philanthropy in developing cultures of mass giving present?Why are we seeing more emphasis on direct cash giving in recent years? Is the growth primarily driven by individual P2P giving, or by organisations employing direct giving models? If the latter, is this primarily driven by a desire to democratise/shift power or by a belief that it delivers better results in terms of outcomes?Related Links:The HistPhil websiteBen's Urban Institute paper on "Norms and Narratives That Shape US Charitable and Philanthropic Giving"The recent New York Times article "Elon Musk’s Latest Innovation: Troll Philanthropy" (which Ben and Rhod were both quoted in).Rhod's blog on "MacKenzie Scott & the History of Challenging Philanthropy’s Status Quo" Rhod's blog "The Edgelord Giveth: Elon Musk & a new era of discourse about philanthropy?"Rhod's previous conversation with Ben on the CAF Giving Thought podcast 

Send us a textIn this episode I talk to Dan Corry, Chief Executive of NPC - a UK think tank and consultancy for the social sector. We discuss NPC's "Rethink, Rebuild" project, and how the pandemic might reshape philanthropy and civil society. Including:What does it mean to take a systems approach whens setting strategy, and why is it important?To what extent might erode individual organisational identity over time? Is that a problem, or a good thing?Is there too much competition and not enough collaboration in the charity sector? Why is this?Why are existing approaches to collaboration not always good at ensuring equity and fairness?What kind of challenges are there for traditional grantmakers when it comes to bringing communities and people with lived experience into decision making processes?Are there signs that funders are changing their behaviour during the current crisis? (Moving to unrestricted funding, trust-based grantmaking etc.) Is this likely to lead to longer-term changes?How can funders strike the right balance between taking a trust-based approach and not placing unnecessary reporting burdens on grantees, and having sufficient measurement to ensure they still know their funding is working?What role can data play in making philanthropy and grantmaking more effective and equitable?How do we enable and incentivise data sharing approaches?What will be required to convince local and central govt, and public sector bodies, of the merits of sharing their data with charities?Is too much of the emphasis in the current UK government “Levelling Up” agenda on physical infrastructure?How do we get government to think of social infrastructure alongside physical infrastructure?Do we need to “level up” the charity sector itself, in order to overcome geographic imbalances in where there is provision and resources?What is the role of government when it comes to philanthropy & civil society? E.g. To acknowledge it, to craft a narrative about the role it plays, to support it actively, to hold it to account etc?How can we get better understanding and clearer narratives about philanthropy/civil society in the minds of policymakers?Are there any practical barriers that are currently limiting the ability of civil society to “have a seat at the table” when it comes to policy discussions? What could we do to overcome these?Related Links:NPC's websiteNPC's Rethink, Rebuild resource hubDan's speech at the recent NPC Ignites conferenceThe piece I wrote for 360 Giving on why open data could help drive a better culture of philanthropyMy comment piece with Dan Fluskey of CIOF for Civil Society on "How Fundraising and Philanthropy Can Help 'Level Up'"-

Send us a textIn this very much feature length (!) episode we explore the philosophy of philanthropy. We take a look at some of the key philosophical questions about giving that have been tackled by great thinkers through the ages,  and ask how they can inform our thinking about philanthropy today. Including:-Is altruism or egoism the basis of human nature? -What is the nature of property? -Why should we give? -Is giving a choice or a duty? -How does charity relate to justice? -What should we give to? -How should we give? -Are perpetual endowments justifiable? -What is the role of philanthropy in a democracy? -Why has Effective Altruism become so influential, and should we be concerned? -Do we need to wider philosophical perspectives on philanthropy? Related LinksMy Suggested Reading list on the philosophy of philanthropyCAF Giving Thought podcast on Effective AltruismCAF Giving Thought podcast interview with Rob ReichRecent Aeon article “Why Longtermism is the World’s Most Dangerous Secular Credo”Amia Srinivasan’s 2015 London Review of Books article “Stop the Robot Apocalypse”

Send us a textIn this episode we talk to Lucy Bernholz, Director of the Digital Civil Society Lab at Stanford University's Center on Philanthropy & Civil Society, about her new book How We Give Now: A Philanthropic Guide for the Rest of Us.  In a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, Rhodri and Lucy discuss many issues relating to themes in the book, including:The expanding "Giving Space"What will the expansion of the “giving space” and the proliferation of ways of “doing good” (e.g. crowdfunding, social investment, ethical consumerism,  etc) mean for traditional philanthropic giving? Does this matter?Has most of the “democratization” of giving in recent years actually being “commoditization”? What would genuine democratization of the giving space look like?Platforms and online givingWhat dangers are there in assuming that platforms are neutral public spaces? Will these problems be exacerbated by the shift to new forms of giving?Data donationWhat does data donation look like in practice? Is there something fundamentally different about a form of giving in which the donor retains the asset they have donated?Mutual Aid & MovementsDoes the enthusiasm for mutual aid networks, digital movements etc demonstrate an unmet appetite for greater participation? Have traditional nonprofits fallen into the trap of being too transactional and seeing those who give simply as sources of money rather than potential partners in achieving social change?Political giving:In the context of new online digital social movements, and renewed appreciation by political parties of the importance of grassroots organizing, does the distinction between “philanthropic” giving and “political” giving make sense any longer?Do we need to maintain a distinction between political giving and charitable giving, because the former needs to be wholly transparent while the latter should allow for anonymity?Policy:  When we talk about recognizing other types of giving, are there policy implications? To what extent is it the role of government to try to shape our culture of giving? Should it take an active role, or should it merely ensure minimum standards and safeguards and otherwise stay out of the way?Elite philanthropy & mass givingThere seems to be a real interest among elite donors/institutional funders right now in supporting the growth of everyday giving, social movements etc. Why is this?  Can mass giving movements help to counter concerns about the potentially anti-democratic impact of big money philanthropy? What opportunities (and potential challenges) does the involvement of big money philanthropy in developing cultures of mass giving present?Related Links:Lucy's new book "How We Give Now"Lucy's websiteThe Stanford PACS page for the wider How We Give Now research projectVideo of the launch event for Lucy's book that Rhodri recently helped to moderate (with Asha Curran & Edgar Villanueva)Lucy's appearance on the CAF Giving Thought podcastRhodri's recent blog on "Philanthr

Send us a textWelcome to episode 1 of Philanthropisms! This is the podcast where we put philanthropy in context. Through conversations with expert guests and deep dives into topics, host Rhodri Davies explores giving throughout history, the key trends shaping generosity around the world today and what the future might hold for philanthropy. In this episode we’re going right back to first principles to ask the question “what is philanthropy and why should you care?” To answer that we will take a whistle-stop tour through more than 2,000 years of history, explore the ways in which philanthropy has been defined by comparison to other concepts, and find out about some of the key debates shaping philanthropy today.Including:What does “philanthropisms” mean?Is philanthropy an inherently vague term (or a “floating signifier”)? Does this stop us using it in practice?The roots of philanthropy in the ancient worldThe development of Judeo-Christian notions of charityThe impact of secular humanism, the Reformation, the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution on philanthropyThe Victorian “golden age” of UK giving and the rise of “scientific philanthropy”How the early C20th US Gilded Age established the paradigm for modern philanthropy (for better or worse)Defining philanthropy by what it isn’t- “Philanthropy vs…”:CharityAltruismMutual AidPrivate givingCommercial activityState provisionTaxationPoliticsJusticeWhy should you care about philanthropy (and therefore listen to this podcast…)?Related LinksMy book “Public Good By Private Means: How Philanthropy Shapes Britain” (PDF version available HERE)Hugh Cunnigham on “A History of Western Philanthropy”“Philanthropy and human rights: the genealogy of the idea from antiquity to global society”- 2013 conference paper by Ojvind LarsenThe Hist Phil website https://histphil.org/ Video of the panel discussion on “Rewriting the Rules of Philanthropy”, which I moderated recently for the launch of Lucy Bernholz’s new book “How We Give Now” (including Lucy, Asha Curran from Giving Tuesday and Edgar Villanueva from the Decolonizing Wealth Project).My Medium article “Language Barriers: why the ways in which we talk about philanthropy & civil society are holding us back”My short video of the history of British charity in 2 minutes.

Send us a textWelcome to Philanthropisms: the podcast that puts philanthropy in context. This is a brief trailer ahead of our launch on 21st Oct.In this show,  through conversations with expert guests and deep dives into topics,  host Rhodri Davies will explore giving throughout history, the key trends shaping generosity around the world today and what the future might hold for philanthropy.