The Logic of Charity: Great Expectations in Hard Times

verfasst von: John Mohan, Beth Breeze

Verlag: Palgrave Macmillan UK

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" , Springer Professional "Technik"

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Über dieses Buch

What is charity? How does it operate, who does it benefit and what should we expect it to do? This important book helps to tackle the most common misunderstandings and misconceptions of charitable activity in contemporary British society, especially insofar as these affect the thinking of politicians and policymakers. The authors present and discuss over a dozen studies, including public attitudes to giving, large datasets on the geography and funding patterns of third sector organisations, and interviews with a wide range of donors, charity leaders, fundraisers and philanthropy advisers. This data enables them to explore the logic of charity in terms of the distribution of resources across causes and communities in the UK, and the processes behind philanthropic decision-making, to reveal a picture of charitable activity at odds with widespread assumptions.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

1. Introduction: Is There a ‘Logic of Charity’?

Abstract

Despite charity being a consistent feature of life in the UK, we lack a clear understanding of what charity is, how it operates, who it benefits and what it can and cannot be expected to do. We begin by summarizing the different organizing principles found in government and charity, and note that the logic guiding charitable activity is not well understood by politicians who seek to encourage charity and harness it in support of their political programmes. The historic role and contemporary nature of charity are reviewed, then a discussion of data on public attitudes regarding the role that charity does and should play in relation to government funding highlights how those attitudes have endured and changed over the past 25 years.

John Mohan, Beth Breeze

2. Who Benefits from Charitable Expenditures? The Distribution of Charitable Resources by Cause

Abstract

Charities may be perceived as organizations that are funded entirely from private donations, but which charitable causes receive funding from which sources of income? This chapter analyses the distribution of the income of the charitable sector by main sphere of activity (charitable causes) and by funding streams (private donations, government, etc.). One particular feature of the logic of charity is the degree of concentration of income in general, and of income from particular funding streams, within relatively small numbers of organizations. Major shifts in the distribution of resources therefore seem unlikely to be achieved — for instance, even small-scale reductions in government funding would require some areas of charitable activity to double their private fundraising — which suggests some challenges in the context of the current shrinkage of the state.

John Mohan, Beth Breeze

3. Spatial Logics: The Geographical Distribution of Charities and Charitable Resources

Abstract

It has long been recognized that charitable activity and charitable organizations are distributed very unevenly. Recently some relatively simplistic formulations have postulated the existence of ‘charity deserts’, areas with few registered charitable organizations in which there is a dearth of social action. We question these analyses and attempt to refine them in various ways, which point to the broad conclusion that, appropriately specified, there are significant variations between places in the distribution of charitable resources, which appear closely related to economic conditions. The logic of charity however implies that such gaps will not close easily if at all. Ample historical evidence points to significant and persistent variations. The chapter also reviews recent policy proposals regarding what might be done about so-called charity deserts.

John Mohan, Beth Breeze

4. The Supply of Philanthropy in Relation to Beneficiary Demand

Abstract

This chapter presents a body of qualitative data to explore the complex processes of philanthropic decisionmaking. Donor autonomy, and the historically typical dominance of ‘taste-based’ giving, generates a heterogeneous charity population that is not, on the whole, concerned with matching resources with needs: charity therefore falls short of political expectations. The institutional logic of philanthropy is characterized as supply-led and influenced by three factors: identification with the cause; confidence in the charitable organization being funded; and desire for personal enrichment alongside doing good. This contrasts sharply with the rule-governed allocation of resources by state agencies according to democratically-agreed preferences. Therefore the distribution of philanthropic resources will not easily change in response to new political priorities, and will not necessarily match the pattern of social need.

John Mohan, Beth Breeze

5. How Intermediaries Affect the Distribution of Charitable Benefit

Abstract

This chapter explores the role of charitable intermediaries, such as fundraisers and philanthropy advisers, in determining which causes attract — or fail to attract — philanthropic support. It begins by describing the emergence of intermediaries as a key feature of the changing philanthropy landscape over recent decades. A body of qualitative data then demonstrates that the distribution of charitable resources is skewed in favour of organizations that succeed in building meaningful relationships with donors, that give donors control over how their contributions are used and that create dual benefits by ensuring both public goods and private benefits are achieved as a result of donations. The fundamental differences between donating and paying tax are exacerbated by the intervention of charitable intermediaries, whose numbers are growing and professionalizing.

John Mohan, Beth Breeze

6. Conclusion: Where the Logic of Charity Might Lead Us

Abstract

This book has illustrated how the logic of charity plays out, in terms of the distribution of resources across causes and communities, and the processes behind philanthropic decision-making. Whilst ‘nudge’ policies and place-based initiatives might eventually irrigate some so-called charity deserts, shifting the philanthropic dials will not be straightforward, either in terms of raising overall levels of giving, or creating significant shifts in the distribution of donations between causes or geographical areas. We note grounds for optimism regarding the continued vitality of charity despite adverse economic circumstances, but conclude that charities still have to work to command the confidence of the public, and to contend with the lack of political understanding of, and appreciation for, the diverse roles they play in building a pluralistic civil society.

John Mohan, Beth Breeze

Backmatter

Titel: The Logic of Charity: Great Expectations in Hard Times
verfasst von: John Mohan
Beth Breeze
Verlag: Palgrave Macmillan UK
Electronic ISBN: 978-1-137-52265-8
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-52263-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137522658