Synopses & Reviews
"Highly recommended!" --New Directions in Philanthropy
"... clearly written, well-structured, and amply documented... Himmelstein's study vividly portrays the complicated, contradictory relationship of corporate philanthropy to the corporation..." --Choice
"... this interesting and thought-provoking book should prove valuable to those interested in corporate philanthropy, as well as to those interested in the general position and power of business in American society" --Organizations
"... a discerning and nuanced historically-informed and ethically-framed sociological portrayal of the culture of corporate philanthropy. Elegantly conceived, gracefully written, and pertinent to the concerns of both scholars and practitioners... essential reading for anyone seriously interested in the public role of business in our turbulent times." --ARNOVA News
"... a fascinating account of the action behind the scenes in corporate giving." --Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly
Although American corporations give away several billion dollars a year to a range of philanthropic causes, this practice has come under fire recently, especially from the Right, because of grants to Planned Parenthood and other "liberal" public policy groups. Looking Good and Doing Good examines why corporate philanthropy has become politicized, how corporations respond to controversy, and what the conflicts tell us about corporate philanthropy and corporate politics.
Synopsis
Although American corporations give away several billion dollars a year to a range of philanthropic causes, this practice has come under fire recently, especially from the Right, because of grants to Planned Parenthood and other "liberal" public policy groups. Looking Good and Doing Good examines why corporate philanthropy has become politicized, how corporations respond to controversy, and what the conflicts tell us about corporate philanthropy and corporate politics.
Synopsis
Highly recommended -- New Directions inPhilanthropy
... clearly written, well-structured, and amplydocumented... Himmelstein's study vividly portrays the complicated, contradictoryrelationship of corporate philanthropy to the corporation... --Choice
... this interesting and thought-provoking book should provevaluable to those interested in corporate philanthropy, as well as to thoseinterested in the general position and power of business in American society-- Organizations
... a discerning and nuanced historically-informedand ethically-framed sociological portrayal of the culture of corporatephilanthropy. Elegantly conceived, gracefully written, and pertinent to the concernsof both scholars and practitioners... essential reading for anyone seriouslyinterested in the public role of business in our turbulent times. -- ARNOVANews
... a fascinating account of the action behind the scenes incorporate giving. -- Nonprofit and Voluntary SectorQuarterly
Although American corporations give away several billion dollarsa year to a range of philanthropic causes, this practice has come under firerecently, especially from the Right, because of grants to Planned Parenthood andother liberal public policy groups. Looking Good and Doing Good examineswhy corporate philanthropy has become politicized, how corporations respond tocontroversy, and what the conflicts tell us about corporate philanthropy andcorporate politics.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [171]-180) and index.
About the Author
Jerome L. Himmelstein is Professor of Sociology at Amherst College. His publications include To the Right: The Transformation of American Conservatism and The Strange Career of Marihuana: The Politics and Ideology of Drug Control in America.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Hanging Up on Planned Parenthood
2. The Making of Corporate Philanthropy
3. "A Wonderful Job": The Workaday Worldview of Corporate Philanthropy
4. "The Struggle between Looking Good and Doing Good": The Dilemmas of Corporate
Philanthropy
5. Corporate Philanthropy under Fire I: Planned Parenthood
6. Corporate Philanthropy under Fire II: The Capital Research Center
7. Corporate Philanthropy and Corporate Politics
8. Conclusion: An Economic Act with Social and Political Dimensions