Barbara Ibrahim

More focus on ordinary givers

Olga Alexeeva chooses a provocative fashion image to highlight the ways in which ‘new’ philanthropy may not be very different from the robber baron variety that emerged in the United States early in the 20th century. In that era, wealth created on the backs of exploited workers or through cartel business practices was used by elite families to start private foundations, which became role models for thousands of others. Consistent ethical standards were not the strong suit of those founding fathers.