Opinion: Philanthropy Has Changed Little in Past 100 Years

A 100-year-old article on giving by the rich shows that much about American philanthropy has remained relatively unchanged, a Forbes columnist writes.

Betsy Brill, who runs the giving consultancy Strategic Philanthropy, says both the January 1, 1911, New York Times article and contemporary sources show that wealthy donors tend to focus big gifts on universities and that U.S. giving overall primarily benefits education, religious institutions, and large aid groups like the American Red Cross.

Then and now, relatively little high-level philanthropy supports community, grass-roots, or policy groups and organizations serving minorities and the poor, Ms. Brill writes.

While wealthy donors “should be commended for their charitable contributions to society,” she adds, “we must continue to question and to critique. To what extent has American philanthropy over the last century helped the most vulnerable people to help themselves?”