You're currently viewing:

Book reviews


White Philanthropy: Carnegie Corporation’s ‘An American Dilemma’ and the making of a white world order

Rhodri Davies 6 September 2022 For Subscribers

Reviewed by Rhodri Davies, founder of Philanthropy Matters Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 many organisations and institutions, including foundations and charities, declared their support for the aims of the Black Lives Matter …

Two books explore both sides of the philanthropy debate

Ingrid Srinath 31 May 2022 For Subscribers

Reviewed by Ingrid Srinath, founder and director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University, India ‘Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there,’ Rumi, …

How We Give Now: A philanthropic guide for the rest of us

Robin Heller 1 March 2022 For Subscribers

Reviewed by Robin Heller, President, The Athena Advisors As the title suggests, in her new book Lucy Bernholz is interested not so much in the specific causes to which people give, or even the amounts, …

Modern Grantmaking: A guide for funders who believe better is possible

Michael Alberg-Seberich 30 November 2021 For Subscribers

Reviewed by Michael Alberg-Seberich, Managing director, Wider Sense This book is two things: first, a practical toolbox for everybody working in the field of grantmaking. Second, the manifestation – not a manifesto – of a …

Empire of Pain: The secret history of the Sackler dynasty

Robin Heller 30 November 2021 For Subscribers

Reviewed by Robin Heller, President, The Athena Advisors When the Serpentine art gallery opened in London in 2013, it was named after the Sackler family, long known for contributions to art, medicine and education. Earlier …

Family Philanthropy Navigator: The inspirational guide for philanthropic families on their giving journey

Filiz Bikmen 1 June 2021

Reviewed by Filiz Bikmen, Founding director, Esas Sosyal. Remember how it feels to be in a room with a number of small tables, flipcharts, colourful post-its and lively drawings of the participants’ discussions captured on …

How to Fight Inequality (and why that fight needs you)

Deborah Doane 2 March 2021 For Subscribers

Reviewed by Deborah Doane, Partner, Rights CoLab. Inequality is ‘the meta issue’ we should all focus on, argues Ben Phillips. It is holding back progress on all other issues from poverty to climate change. One …

Philanthropy Revolution: How to inspire donors, build relationships and make a difference

Angela Seay 1 December 2020

Reviewed by Angela Seay Trustee, Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation. The world of philanthropy can be difficult to navigate for both donors and fundraising professionals. Drawing on her experience as a donor, Los Angeles based philanthropist Lisa …

Philanthropy: From Aristotle to Zuckerberg

David Cutler 1 December 2020

Reviewed by David Cutler, Director, Baring Foundation. When reviewers normally refer to a book as ‘magisterial’, it is as a polite euphemism for an extremely long read. At 750 pages, Philanthropy is indeed a doorstop. …

The Reputation of Philanthropy since 1750: Britain and beyond

David Cutler 1 September 2020

Reviewed by David Cutler, Director at the Baring Foundation. Hugh Cunningham’s book sets itself the task of understanding what the slippery word ‘philanthropy’ means in the book’s timeframe, then uses the definition to see how …