Robin Hood Was Right: A Guide to Giving Your Money for Social Change - Hardcover

Collins, Chuck; Rogers, Pam; Garner, Joan P.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0393048276 ISBN 13: 9780393048278

Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc, 2000

Synopsis

Collins, Pam Rogers, and Joan P. Garner, all longtime activists and directors of social change organizations, show that traditional charity most often reinforces the status quo and maintains the dynamics of dependency and control. They maintain that the progressive ethic of giving, on the other hand, offers ingenious ways to attack the root causes of social problems. Step-by-step explanations of how to be a deliberate and progressive giver address topics such as learning how to assess what one can give, investing proactively, making a socially beneficial will, understanding tax-wise giving, when and how to find help and guidance, and making an actual funding plan. The book contains many anecdotes and cartoons. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About this title

About the Author

Chuck Collins co-directs the United for a Fair Economy project; Pam Rogers is the special projects coordinator at the Haymarket People's Fund in Boston, one of the oldest social change foundations in the United States. They live in the Boston area. Joan P. Garner directs the Atlanta-based Southern Partners Fund, which supports community-based social change organizations across an eleven-state region in the Southeast.

Reviews

The authors acknowledge that Americans contributed $109 billion to charity last year, but they question whether "we [are] spending our charitable dollars effectively." They argue that traditional philanthropy focuses on alleviating the symptoms of society's ills, and they challenge us to support causes that look for solutions to social problems. The authors certainly practice what they preach. They all hold executive positions with organizations actively devoted to social change; Collins is an heir to the Oscar Mayer fortune and a member of Responsible Wealth, a Boston-based advocacy group. After contrasting traditional philanthropy with their approach to promoting social change, they examine the personal issues and roadblocks that affect charitable giving, provide practical guidelines for socially responsible investing and "tax-wise" giving, and recommend a personalized giving plan. Each of the 14 chapters profiles a different organization dedicated to a progressive cause, and appendixes list more than 150 such groups, foundations, and other resources. David Rouse

Edition details

• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0393048276
• ISBN 13: 9780393048278
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 286