Philanthropic Inequality in Public Media
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Date
2024-05
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Economic inequality has been growing in the United States since the early 1970s. Because economic inequality has negative consequences for society, some are eager to take steps to reduce it. One proposed solution is philanthropic giving. However, there is currently little research testing economic inequality's relationship with philanthropy. To examine this relationship, we draw the case of a large nonprofit public media organization. We find that as economic inequality has grown, donations to this organization have become increasingly concentrated within a smaller number of donors. The positive correlation between economic inequality and philanthropy undermines the assertion that philanthropy may reduce economic inequality. The implications of these findings are important for policymakers who aim to reduce economic inequality and for nonprofit leaders as they plan their funding strategies.
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Keywords
Economic Inequality, Nonprofits, Charity, Philanthropy, Philanthropic Inequality