Generosity Unbound: How American Philanthropy Can Strengthen the Economy and Expand the Middle Class

by Claire Gaudiani

In Generosity Unbound , Claire Gaudiani mounts a spirited defense of philanthropic freedom addressed to conservatives, liberals and centrists. She acknowledges the good intentions of those who favor greater regulation of private philanthropy, but powerfully demonstrates the dangers of this approach. But this book is more than a warning. Gaudiani also uncovers the fascinating history of philanthropy in America, showing how this nation’s distinctive tradition of citizen-to-citizen generosity has been a powerful engine of economic growth, social justice, and upward mobility. Finally, Gaudiani calls on foundation leaders, legislators, and concerned citizens to take up anew the great challenge set forth by our nation’s Founders in the Declaration of Independence.  She proposes an all-out citizen-led effort to deliver on the Declaration’s promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all of us, particularly our poorest citizens.  The success of such a ‘Declaration Initiative’ would enable us to justly celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4th, 2026.

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2010

About the author

Claire Lynn Gaudiani was an American academic and president of Connecticut College from 1988 to 2001. She graduated from Connecticut College in 1966. During her tenure as president, the college's endowment grew significantly, and its national profile rose. Gaudiani was also known for her controversial role in the redevelopment of New London, Connecticut, which led to the landmark Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London.

Reviews

[Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat dry, slightly jingoistic monograph on the history and importance of American private philanthropic foundations. Gaudiani frames the American habit of widespread citizen-to-citizen generosity as a product of “self-interest, rightly understood” – the synthesis of freedom and virtue born out of the Scottish Enlightenment and the American Founders’ handiwork.

I agree with Gaudiani that foundations are key institutions in civil society worth encouraging, not hyper-regulating. Foundations are vehicles through which extraordinarily wealthy private citizens can promote the public good for generations to come. Indeed, it’s interesting to reflect on the proliferation of these quasi-aristocratic entities in our modern liberal democracy.

On the other hand, it often felt like the author was extolling the entrepreneurial impulse – the desire to “change the world” through “systems-level impact” – behind much of American philanthropy over and above the…well, charitable impulse. Somewhere along the line, the goal ceases to be helping one’s neighbor or making one’s place beautiful – and becomes instead “improving mankind,” often through some form of social engineering. This is crucial, because this kind of abstract philanthropic thinking has a dark side, one which Gaudiani ignores in her overview: I’m thinking of the settlement house movement in the 19th century that forcibly broke apart Catholic immigrant families, or the foundations in the early 20th century that supported eugenics initiatives and paved the way for Nazism across the ocean.

For a more revisionist perspective on the American philanthropic tradition, I recommend reading Jeremy Beer’s The Philanthropic Revolution.