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Category: Elite Philanthropy

  • Article

    What is the point of philanthropic foundations? Part 3: current issues

    14th November 2023

    This is the third and final part of an essay mini-series exploring the nature and role of philanthropic foundations. Here we consider some of the key themes that have emerged throughout the long history of critique and criticisms of foundations, and how these might inform our understanding of current debates.

  • Article

    Does Philanthropy Make You a Good Person?

    9th September 2023

    We explore how and why philanthropy informs our judgements about other people’s moral worth.

  • Article

    Radical Philanthropy: Some thoughts on the recent New Yorker profile of Leah Hunt-Hendrix

    17th August 2023

    Rhodri Davies highlights a few thoughts prompted by the recent New Yorker magazine profile of philanthropist Leah Hunt-Hendrix.

  • Article

    In An Ideal World, Would There Be No Philanthropy?

    14th July 2023

    We explore the idea that “in an ideal world there would be no philanthropy”: why does it have such deep roots, how should we understand it, and is it right?

  • Article

    What is Philanthropy For? (Speech to Yorkshire Funders 2023 Conference)

    23rd June 2023

    This is the text of a keynote speech Rhodri Davies gave at the 2023 Yorkshire Funders Conference in Leeds, outlining some of the key questions about the nature and role of philanthropy and why there is a particular need to engage with them right now.

  • Podcast featured in: Transforming Society

    What should we do about tainted donations?

    In the second of this series of short podcasts to mark the launch of his book “What is Philanthropy For?”, Rhodri Davies joins series Editor George Miller to discuss whether some donations are ‘tainted’ , and what ethical dilemmas this poses for charities.

  • Newsletter featured in: Why Philanthropy Matters Newsletter

    Why Philanthropy Matters May 2023 Newsletter (#9)

    You can read the ninth edition of our monthly newsletter below (from May 2023).

    If you like what you read, subscribe HERE.

  • 8th Jun 2023

    Patricia Illingworth: Philanthropy & Human Rights

  • Podcast featured in: Transforming Society

    Is philanthropy charity’s more rational cousin?

    In the second of this series of short podcasts to mark the launch of his book “What is Philanthropy For?”, Rhodri Davies joins series Editor George Miller to discuss the distinction between charity and philanthropy, how big money giving fits in with democracy, and what Effective Altruism is (and why it has been in trouble lately).

  • Article featured in: Why Philanthropy Matters Newsletter

    Why Philanthropy Matters April 2023 Newsletter (#8)

    You can read the eighth edition of our monthly newsletter below (from April 2023).

    If you like what you read, subscribe HERE.

  • 3rd May 2023

    Dr Ewan Kirk – Philanthropy & giving ‘permission to fail’

  • Video featured in: Impulse Stiften

    Rhodri Davies talking to Impulse Stiften

    A recording of a recent conversation Rhodri Davies had with Felix Dresewski for the Impulse Stiften group of German-speaking foundations.

  • Article featured in: Vox

    Jeff Bezos wants the world to know he’s a philanthropist

    Rhodri Davies is quoted in this article from Vox, which takes a deep dive into what we know about Jeff Bezos’s philanthropy.

  • Article

    Lost in the Crowd: Philanthropy, Population Debates & The Shadow of Eugenics

    19th January 2023

    As debate grows over whether we should be more concerned about over-population or declining birth rates, we explore why philanthropy has such a problematic history when it comes to engaging with population issues, and what lessons this holds for modern-day donors and non-profits.

  • Article featured in: Town & Country

    Crypto’s Credo: Effective Altruism After Sam Bankman-Fried

    Rhodri Davies comments on the future prospects for EA in the wake of Sam Bankman-Fried’s downfall.

  • 19th Dec 2022

    2023 Predictions for Philanthropy & Civil Society

  • Learn from our past to better understand our future.

    Philanthropy has a long and varied history. We’ve created bite-size chapters that you can jump in and out of to better understand philanthropy.