10+ Best Articles on Philanthropy
The most useful articles on philanthropy from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Philanthropy Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved on philanthropy by Refind users in 2023 so far.
Videos
Watch a video to get a quick overview.
How America’s richest donate their money
Billionaires don’t give the same way we do.Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Every year, publications...
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles on philanthropy—all under 10 minutes.
Would the World Be Better Off Without Philanthropists?
Critics say that big-time donors wield too much power over their fellow-citizens and perpetuate social inequality. But don’t cancel Lady Bountiful just yet.
What a second-century Roman citizen, Lucian, can teach us about diversity and acceptance
Lucian’s work provides insight into the second-century Roman world, which fostered multilingualism and multiculturalism.
Why is there so much secrecy in philanthropy?
Annual top donor lists don’t always include the top donors. A philanthropy expert explains why.
MacKenzie Scott is shaking up philanthropy's traditions. Is that a good thing?
Donations often come with rigorous applications and reporting requirements. Billionaire MacKenzie Scott, who divorced Jeff Bezos in 2019 and vowed to give away most of her fortune, does it her way.
Why Philanthropy Is No Longer Just for the Rich
Here’s how the rules of philanthropy are changing — and how you can get involved.
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles on philanthropy.
Jeff Bezos wants the world to know he’s a philanthropist
The Amazon founder has committed to giving most of his money to charity — and he’s got roughly $120 billion to burn. How’s he doing?
On the Differences Between Ecomodernism and Effective Altruism
In short: an unscalable ecocentrism, an unworkable longtermism, and an impractical anti-institutionalism.
How philanthropy benefits the super-rich
The long read: There are more philanthropists than ever before. Each year they give tens of billions to charitable causes. So how come inequality keeps rising?
Effective altruism’s most controversial idea
Longtermism is influencing billionaires and politicians. Should it guide the future of humanity?
Billionaires get too much credit for philanthropy
The ultrawealthy are donating more than ever. That doesn’t mean the rest of us are giving less.
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