Book reviews

 

The Art of Giving: Where the soul meets a business plan by Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon

The Art of Giving: Where the soul meets a business plan by Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon

Steven Burkeman
1 March 2010
Alliance magazine

The basis of this book raises a fascinating issue, perhaps best encapsulated by its subtitle – ‘where the soul meets a business plan’. As an individual, I reserve the right to respond emotionally when I encounter immediate need. As a grantmaker in an institutional context, I have the opportunity to sit down and think, to research and analyse alongside others, and then to take a decision that, though it may be rooted in an emotional commitment, is tempered by this more rational process. Click here to read ...


The Aid Trap: Hard truths about ending poverty by R Glenn Hubbard and William Duggan

The Aid Trap: Hard truths about ending poverty by R Glenn Hubbard and William Duggan

Reuben Abraham
1 December 2009
Alliance magazine

Since the success of the Marshall Plan in reviving the economies of western Europe after the Second World War, it has been assumed that large-scale aid programmes will kickstart economic development in poor countries. For 40 years, aid was an important weapon of the Cold War, where allegiances could be bought and sold on the basis of aid packages. After the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the aid industry changed tack and used morality to market itself. Books like The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs and the bully pulpits of rock stars hammered the message home. Click here to read ...


Non-Governmental Organisations and Development by David Lewis and Nazneen Kanji

Non-Governmental Organisations and Development by David Lewis and Nazneen Kanji

Richard Holloway
1 December 2009
Alliance magazine

If you are looking for a comprehensive book on the subject of NGOs, go no further. This book, it is true, covers ground that others have covered, usually in much more dense and arcane language, but it is without doubt a volume to have for reference purposes and which covers all aspects of this much-disputed field. It has very clear and to-the-point chapter headings and section headings, and provides bullets at the start of each chapter to make it clear what is covered there. Click here to read ...


Charity in Islamic Societies by Amy Singer

Charity in Islamic Societies by Amy Singer

Rana Zincir Celal
1 September 2009
Alliance magazine

Amy Singer draws on a vast array of sources, from 10th century jurist Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali to early 20th century Turkish political activist Halide Edip Adavar, in her rich overview of philanthropy in Islamic societies. The work unites religious texts and their meaning with a fascinating analysis of the role and impact of charity in Islamic societies, presenting charity as both religious ideal and social practice. Click here to read ...


Philanthropy In/Sight

Reinhard Skinner and Selim Iltus
1 September 2009
Alliance magazine

Click here to read ...

Global Development 2.0: Can philanthropists, the public and the poor make poverty history? by Lael Brainard

Global Development 2.0: Can philanthropists, the public and the poor make poverty history? by Lael Brainard

Kumi Naidoo
1 September 2009
Alliance magazine

Global Development 2.0 is a timely assessment of the changing landscape of development. It explores the common challenges faced by all development players, including questions of accountability; effective deployment of human, technological and financial resources; policy and agenda setting; and the challenges of achieving scale and sustainability. A key concern is to spur debate on new forms of collaboration that include the new actors, most notably mega-philanthropists such as Bill Gates and ‘celanthropists’ such as Bono. Click here to read ...


Books in brief

1 September 2009
Alliance magazine

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the gap between rich and poor in an interconnected world
Jacqueline Novogratz Barnes & Noble $19.96
ISBN 9781594869150 Click here to read ...


Uncharitable: How restraints on nonprofits undermine their potential by Dan Pallotta
Dan Pallotta

Uncharitable: How restraints on nonprofits undermine their potential by Dan Pallotta

Steven Burkeman
1 June 2009
Alliance magazine

Click here to read ...

Local Mission – Global Vision: Community foundations in the 21st century - Peter deCourcy Hero and Peter Walkenhorst

Lucia Dellagnelo
1 March 2009
Alliance magazine

For those of us who work with community foundations, particularly in emerging countries, moments of reflection are rare. We are so busy performing the ‘balancing act’, as Dorothy Reynolds puts it, that we rarely have a chance to think about the broader issues for our field.

That is why this book is so precious. It puts together a historical record of the emergence and development of community foundations around the world, with descriptions of practical experiences of community foundations working in different contexts, and provides technical guidance on governance and planning. Click here to read ...


Doing good well

Doing Good Well: What does (and does not) make sense in the nonprofit world - Willie Cheng

Sixdon Macasaet
1 March 2009
Alliance magazine

In this, his first book, Willie Cheng draws on his experience, both as a partner and managing director of the Singapore branch of the global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing firm Accenture and as the Chair of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Center in Singapore, to explain and provide new perspectives on the principles and thinking behind the working of the non-profit sector. Click here to read ...


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