Private Funds, Public Purpose: Philanthropic Foundations in International Perspective (Nonprofit and Civil Society Studies)

Comparative information detailing the cultural, legal and historical environments of foundations in international settings has been scarce - until now. Written by scholars from six countries, this text covers philanthropic foundations in the world's busiest commercial centers - the U.S. and Eastern and Western Europe. It reports on the structures and mindsets that shape foundations' gift giving, and discusses different aspects of foundation management. Case studies of the French and Italian foundation communities and a comparative legal chapter are especially notable. Booknews Finding that the scholarship on philanthropic organizations has not kept up with the growing reliance on them as sources of funds in the nonprofit sector, economists, sociologists, and law scholars analyze then on a global level. They assess the capabilities of many foundations in various countries, examine the contexts in which they function, and analyze comparatively the factors that have shaped their development. The collection begins the series of monographs on the relationship between the nonprofit sector and civil society for scholars and policymakers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) With contributions by notable scholars from six different nations, Private Funds, Public Purpose is the first work in decades to offer a better understanding of philanthropic foundations at the international level. This timely volume assesses the capabilities of numerous foundations in various countries, examines the contexts within which they function, and offers comparative analyses of the historical, structural, legal, and social factors that have shaped their development. The contributors also examine and compare different styles of foundation management, as found in the United States and the United Kingdom, and provide case studies of the development of foundation communities. Private Funds, Public Purpose is a unique and important source of up-to-date information for researchers interested in the nonprofit sector and philanthropy, as well as for professionals employed by foundations or international organizations. It is also an excellent textbook for graduate-level courses in nonprofit and philanthropy studies. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Philanthropic Foundations....Pages 3-23 Front Matter....Pages 25-26 The History of Foundations in the United Kingdom and the United States....Pages 27-53 A Comparative Legal Analysis of Foundations....Pages 55-78 Foundations in Germany and the United States....Pages 79-118 Front Matter....Pages 119-119 British Foundations....Pages 121-139 The Behavior of Grantmaking Foundations....Pages 141-153 Toward an Entrepreneurial Approach, to Foundation Management....Pages 155-162 Operating in a Grantmaking World....Pages 163-181 Front Matter....Pages 183-184 Foundations in France....Pages 185-198 Foundations in Italy....Pages 199-218 Foundations in Germany and Their Revival in East Germany after 1989....Pages 219-233 Rebuilding Civil Society in Eastern and Central Europe....Pages 235-252 Front Matter....Pages 253-253 Why Study Foundations?....Pages 255-259 Back Matter....Pages 261-264 Analisa as organizações filantrópicas, em âmbito internacional, examinando os contextos nos quais elas atuam. Oferece, ainda, análises comparativas dos fatores históricos, estruturais, legais e sociais que caracterizam o desenvolvimento dessas organizações In recent years, we have experienced a renewed interest in philanthropic foundations in countries as different as the United States, Japan, Italy, Germany, Sweden, and Turkey or Brazil.