A Versatile American Institution

The Changing Ideals and Realities of Philanthropic Foundations

Business & Finance, Industries & Professions, Nonprofit Organizations & Charities, Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Government, Social Policy
Cover of the book A Versatile American Institution by David C. Hammack, Helmut K. Anheier, Brookings Institution Press
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Author: David C. Hammack, Helmut K. Anheier ISBN: 9780815721956
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press Publication: February 27, 2013
Imprint: Brookings Institution Press Language: English
Author: David C. Hammack, Helmut K. Anheier
ISBN: 9780815721956
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Publication: February 27, 2013
Imprint: Brookings Institution Press
Language: English

America's grantmaking foundations have grown rapidly over the course of recent decades, even in the face of financial and economic crises. Foundations have a great deal of freedom, enjoy widespread legitimacy, and wield considerable influence. In this book, David Hammack and Helmut Anheier follow up their edited volume, American Foundations, with a comprehensive historical account of what American foundations have done with that independence and power.

While philanthropic foundations play important roles in other parts of the world, the U.S. sector stands out as exceptional. Nowhere else are they so numerous, prominent, or autonomous. What have been the main contributions of philanthropic foundations to American society? And what might the future hold for them?

A Versatile American Institution considers foundations in a new way. Previous accounts typically focused narrowly on their organization, donors, and leaders, and their intentions-but not on the outcome of philanthropy. Rather than looking at foundations in a vacuum, Hammack and Anheier consider their roles and contributions in the context of their times and their economic and political circumstances.

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America's grantmaking foundations have grown rapidly over the course of recent decades, even in the face of financial and economic crises. Foundations have a great deal of freedom, enjoy widespread legitimacy, and wield considerable influence. In this book, David Hammack and Helmut Anheier follow up their edited volume, American Foundations, with a comprehensive historical account of what American foundations have done with that independence and power.

While philanthropic foundations play important roles in other parts of the world, the U.S. sector stands out as exceptional. Nowhere else are they so numerous, prominent, or autonomous. What have been the main contributions of philanthropic foundations to American society? And what might the future hold for them?

A Versatile American Institution considers foundations in a new way. Previous accounts typically focused narrowly on their organization, donors, and leaders, and their intentions-but not on the outcome of philanthropy. Rather than looking at foundations in a vacuum, Hammack and Anheier consider their roles and contributions in the context of their times and their economic and political circumstances.

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