Current Campaigns | Past Campaigns


December 1999-January 2000

Philanthropy and Inequality in an
Season of Sharing

It's boom time. We have more than ever to spend.
Why are we giving less now than
when we had less to give?

Americans have more money than ever to spend -- and share if they choose. But charities nationwide report that "both individuals and companies are donating less to organizations that support the homeless, the young, and the hungry than they did in leaner times," According to a December 12 New York Times report. Consider these facts from the Times :

  • Americans gave a record $175 billion in 1999, up 11% over 1997. But 90% of the money went to religious groups and organizations catering mostly to the rich and middle class

  • Giving for human services dropped from 13.9% of all donations in 1970 to just 9.2%

  • Americans are giving a smaller percentage of their incomes to all forms of philanthropy: 2.1% in 1999, down from 2.5% a decade before

  • Despite record profits, corporate giving has been dropping even faster than personal contributions

Over the next 20 years, baby boomers will inherit trillions of dollars from their parents. What will they do with it all? Raised in the socially conscious 60's, will they just buy more BMWs or condos on Maui? Or will they acknowledge the social inequities that still plague America and use their wealth to help redress them?

There are trends in both directions. Some boomers are already modeling more generous behavior. Bolstered by burgeoning stock portfolios, Ted Turner gave $1 billion to the United Nations and challenged his fellow billionaires to match him. Upping the ante, Bill Gates gave $17 billion to his foundation for child and maternal health and education. Many people of more modest means give money for "change, not charity" to address the underlying causes of social problems in America.

How can our wealth be used to lift all boats, and not just the yachts? The Mainstream Media Project offered experts at the leading edge of philanthropic innovation, showing radio listeners how to make their money work not only for themselves but for the many who work hard but haven't yet shared the bounty of our booming economy.

Guest Speakers by Topic

New Trends in Philanthropy

Chuck Collins, Co-Director, United for a Fair Economy

Tracy Gary, Founding Director, Changemakers

Ruth Ann Harnisch,The Impact Project

Christopher Mogil and Anne Slepian, Publishers, More than Money

Teresa (Terry) Odendahl, Executive Director, National Network of Grantmakers


The Wealth Gap: Precarious Prosperity

Jared Bernstein, Labor Economist, Economic Policy Institute

Jeff Gates, President, Shared Capitalism Institute

Dara Silverman, Campaign Organizer, United for a Fair Economy


The Wage Gap: Earning a Living Wage

Bob Burnett, Former First Vice President of Engineering, CISCO Systems; Member, Responsible Wealth

Barbara Ehrenreich, Widely Published Writer; Syndicated Columnist

Scott Klinger, Co-Director, Responsible Wealth and its project, Business Leaders for a Living Wage


Living Wage Campaigns, Movements in many cities seeking to require wages sufficient to support a family

Sam Pizzigati, Labor Journalist


The High Cost of Prejudice: Racial Dimensions of the Wealth Gap

Chester Hartman, President, Poverty and Race Research Council

Julianne Malveaux, President and CEO, Last Word Productions


Current Campaigns | Past Campaigns