The Givers
Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age
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3.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
An inside look at the secretive world of elite philanthropists--and how they're quietly wielding ever more power to shape American life in ways both good and bad.
While media attention focuses on famous philanthropists such as Bill Gates and Charles Koch, thousands of donors are at work below the radar promoting a wide range of causes. David Callahan charts the rise of these new power players and the ways they are converting the fortunes of a second Gilded Age into influence. He shows how this elite works behind the scenes on education, the environment, science, LGBT rights, and many other issues--with deep impact on government policy. Above all, he shows that the influence of the Givers is only just beginning, as new waves of billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg turn to philanthropy. Based on extensive research and interviews with countless donors and policy experts, this is not a brief for or against the Givers, but a fascinating investigation of a power shift in American society that has implications for us all.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Callahan (Fortunes of Change), founder of the website Inside Philanthropy, issues a thoughtful call for transparency and oversight in the charity sector. He begins with Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan's 2015 announcement that they were giving away 99% of their Facebook shares. The accolades were tempered by a backlash, with critics claiming the goal was to avoid taxes and push through a political agenda. Callahan explores the culture of "activist donors," wealthy individuals with the power and influence to shape society and further their own agendas a power that is only growing. Most of these individuals are white, but otherwise they make up a broad group with widely varying motivations. Some of their goals are more controversial than others, and the power they wield is becoming less and less democratic. Callahan discusses a range of efforts, both well known (the philanthropist-driven effort to revamp Newark's public school system) and less so (Women Moving Millions, which supports global gender equality). He ends by telling readers to take a close look at this effective but non-egalitarian system, bolstered with suggestions for reform. This striking, thought-provoking work is perfectly timed as American activists move to confront a new presidential administration.
