Elite Philanthropy Research Articles

Understanding major gift donors

AbstractThe Seven Faces of Philanthropy: A New Approach to Cultivating Major Donors, by Russ Alan Prince and Karen Maru File. San Francisco: Jossey‐Bass, 1994. 247 pp., $27.95 cloth.Why the Wealthy Give: The Culture of Elite Philanthropy, by Francie Ostrower. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1995. 190 pp., $35.00 cloth, $14.95 paper.

Money for Change: Social Movement Philanthropy at Haymarket People's Fund. By Susan A. Ostrander. and Why the Wealthy Give: The Culture of Elite Philanthropy. By Francie Ostrower.

Money for Change: Social Movement Philanthropy at Haymarket People's Fund. By Susan A. Ostrander. and Why the Wealthy Give: The Culture of Elite Philanthropy. By Francie Ostrower.

Book ReviewWhy the Wealthy Give: The Culture of Elite Philanthropy. By Francie Ostrower. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. 1995. Pp. xi+250. $29.95.

Previous articleNext article No AccessBook Review Why the Wealthy Give: The Culture of Elite Philanthropy. By Francie Ostrower. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. 1995. Pp. xi+250. $29.95.Paul G. Schervish Paul G. SchervishBoston College Search for more articles by this author Boston CollegePDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by American Journal of Sociology Volume 102, Number 6May 1997 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/231156 Views: 39Total views on this site Permission to reprint a book review in this section may be obtained only from the review's author.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Why the Wealthy Give: The Culture of Elite Philanthropy.

Why the Wealthy Give: The Culture of Elite Philanthropy.

Why the wealthy give: the culture of elite philanthropy

Why the wealthy give: the culture of elite philanthropy

The Culture of Elite Philanthropy in the Reagan Years

This study was based on 140 interviews with wealthy philanthropic Americans. Evidence indicates that most of the giving of these multi millionaires goes to institutions and programs that serve the interests of the upper class, not the needy. Private nonprofit universities, prep schools, and arts and cultural groups receive more support from elite philanthropists than social service or health causes. These findings are of concern due to the extreme concentration of private wealth in the United States and Reagan administration policies emphasizing private over government provision of basic human services.