• Book

Behavioral Dimensions of Islamic Philanthropy: The Case of Zakat

  • Source : Springer International Publishing
  • May 2026
This chapter examines the behavioral aspects of individual Islamic donors in their practice of zakat, a specific religious contribution. It aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the factors influencing their giving behavior, including triggers, motivators, traits, attributes, and preferences. The study uses hierarchical cluster analysis to develop psychographic profiles of these donors, highlighting the diversity among them. It emphasizes the need to consider this diversity when developing principles, regulatory standards, institutional infrastructure, and governance models for the Islamic social finance sector, particularly concerning zakat. The research contributes to optimizing zakat management for community welfare.
  • Blog

Barbs, Jabs, and the Roles of Community Foundations

  • Source : The centre for Effective philanthropy
Phil Buchanan, President of the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), discusses the evolving roles and challenges faced by community foundations. He addresses critiques and emphasizes their critical importance in responding to local needs and fostering community engagement. Buchanan advocates for these foundations to adopt adaptive strategies to maintain effectiveness within the dynamic philanthropic landscape. The blog highlights the unique position of community foundations in bridging resources and local issues, underscoring their potential for impact despite increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from various stakeholders.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Audacious philanthropy

  • Source : Harvard Business Review
In "Audacious Philanthropy," the authors examine significant social-impact successes from the past century, highlighting ambitious philanthropic initiatives that have achieved profound societal change. Examples include the eradication of polio and the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. The article analyzes the strategies and characteristics of these impactful philanthropic endeavors, suggesting that bold, strategic, and often collaborative approaches are crucial for addressing complex social challenges and driving transformative outcomes on a large scale, moving beyond conventional charitable giving.
  • Academic / Journal Article

An Evaluation of the Quality of Corporate Social Responsibility Reports by Some of the World's Largest Financial Institutions

  • Source : Jstor
This study evaluates the quality and comprehensiveness of 104 CSR reports from the world’s largest financial institutions in 2012. It reveals that legal factors and a country’s CSR environment significantly influence reporting quality, with common law countries showing higher quality. Firm size does not impact overall quality, but larger firms report better on philanthropy and bribery. Common law traditions, robust legal regimes, and high CSR standards correlate with better bribery and corruption reporting, while CSR-minded and low-quality legal environments yield higher quality philanthropy reporting.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Philanthropy in Brazil and the UK: Wealth, responsibility and the pursuit of social change by economic elites

  • Source : Goldsmiths, Univ. of London
  • May 2026
Sklair Correa ethnographically examines how elites in Brazil and the UK use philanthropy to shape social change. The study shows strategic giving reflects global capitalist ideologies while serving as identity and inheritance management. Despite local differences, elite philanthropy in both contexts converges on market-based, strategic models with limited systemic redistribution impact. The research highlights how philanthropic practices by the wealthy are often intertwined with personal and economic objectives, rather than solely altruistic aims. It raises critical questions about the true transformative potential of elite philanthropy in addressing deep-seated societal inequalities.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Philanthropy, markets, and Islamic financial institutions: a new paradigm

  • Source : Humanomics
  • May 2026
This article introduces a theoretical framework positioning Islamic financial institutions as agents of philanthropic finance. Rawashdeh et al. argue that Islamic philanthropy—via zakat, waqf, and microfinance—can generate sustainable, ethical development. They propose integrating these tools into formal financial systems to leverage their potential for broader social impact. The authors highlight the unique mechanisms within Islamic finance that inherently promote charitable giving and wealth redistribution, suggesting a novel approach to development finance. This paradigm emphasizes ethical considerations and social equity as central to financial practices, offering a distinct model for philanthropic engagement.
  • Academic / Journal Article

Philanthropy: Evidence in favor of a profession

  • Source : The Foundation Review
  • May 2026
Carpenter argues that philanthropy requires professionalization through credentialed training, ethical frameworks, and shared standards. Drawing on sector surveys, he outlines core competencies necessary for the field. The author suggests that developing a strong professional identity can significantly strengthen accountability and effectiveness within philanthropic organizations. This professionalization is crucial for the sector to enhance its impact and maintain public trust.
  • Media Article

Philanthropy in India: Where are we today?

  • Source : Indian Development Review
  • May 2026
Sahai reviews the 2017 "Philanthropy in India" report, summarizing who gives, how much, and funding gaps. She highlights rapid growth in organized giving by wealthy and younger donors, noting compliance-based CSR focused on infrastructural causes, and warns about neglecting rights-based philanthropy despite public interest. The article provides a concise overview of the evolving landscape of Indian philanthropy, pointing out both its strengths and areas needing greater attention, particularly concerning social justice and human rights issues. It offers insights into the motivations and trends shaping giving practices.
  • Book

Philanthropy in practice: Pragmatism and the impact of philanthropic action

  • Source : Routledge
  • May 2026
Thümler applies public-philosophy pragmatism to philanthropic action. He critiques strategic philanthropy and advocates middle-range interventions grounded in human values, iterative learning, and ethical reflection. Includes European foundation case studies. The book suggests that a more pragmatic and reflective approach, prioritizing human-centered values and continuous learning, can lead to more meaningful and ethical philanthropic outcomes. It challenges conventional strategic models by emphasizing adaptability and a deeper understanding of the social context. This perspective encourages philanthropy to remain grounded in real-world complexities.
  • Paper / Report

Place, Scale, and Depth of Impact: Place-based Philanthropy

  • Source : PACS Center, Stanford University
  • May 2026
Richards argues that place-based funders can amplify their impact by initiating localized programs that eventually become models for government adoption. She emphasizes the foundational role of philanthropic organizations in de-risking innovation, building the capacity of nonprofit entities, and scaling successful models to influence broader policy. The paper highlights the crucial need for strategic coordination across place, scale, and depth to achieve meaningful societal change.
We use essential and analytics cookies to operate this website and understand how visitors interact with it. As this site also functions as a login identity provider (IDP) for other ISDM portals, some cookies are necessary to enable secure authentication. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
Accept & Continue