Book Review: Creative Philanthropy: Toward a New Philanthropy for the Twenty-First Century, by Helmut K. Anheier and Diana Leat. London: Routledge, 2006. 277 …

This book review analyzes "Creative Philanthropy: Toward a New Philanthropy for the Twenty-First Century" by Helmut K. Anheier and Diana Leat. The authors argue that while society has evolved rapidly, organized philanthropy has remained stagnant, failing to innovate. They critique traditional charity and scientific approaches, highlighting their limitations in achieving widespread impact. Anheier and Leat propose a "creative foundation" for the 21st century—one that is strategic yet opportunistic, utilizes diverse resources beyond just money, and is "post-managerialist," driven by both passion and reason. The review praises this compelling vision for reinventing private foundations to address urgent societal problems.

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RA Wells

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Social Justice, Philanthropy and Human Rights

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