Through a series of candid personal interviews with nearly one hundred
donors, Why the Wealthy Give offers an in-depth look at the world of
elite philanthropy. Francie Ostrower focuses on the New York City area,
with its high concentration of affluent donors, to explore both the
motivations of individual donors and the significance of philanthropy
for the culture and organization of elite groups. In so doing, she
offers an account of why the wealthy give that also provides insight
into the nature of elite culture, status, identity, and cohesion.
Emphasizing the diversity of philanthropy, the book also shows how and
why different types of donors support different causes. It further
demonstrates how, in the face of considerable change, elite philanthropy
has adapted and therefore endured. A timely discussion explores the ways
in which elite donors view the respective roles of government and
philanthropy. Why the Wealthy Give shows that elite philanthropy
involves far more than writing a check. The wealthy take philanthropy
and adapt it into an entire way of life that serves as a vehicle for the
social and cultural life of their class. This is reflected in the
widespread popularity of educational and cultural causes among donors.
At the same time, Ostrower finds divergent patterns of giving that
reflect alternative sources of donor identity, such as religion,
ethnicity, and gender, and explains why certain kinds of donors are more
or less likely to diverge from the prestige hierarchy of their class in
their philanthropy.
