Looking Good and Doing Good

by Himmelstein, Jerome L.

• ISBN13: 9780253211033
• ISBN10: 0253211034
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-01-01
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

"Highly recommended!" -- New Directions in Philanthropy"... clearly written, well-structured, and amply documented... Himmelstein's study vividly portrays the complicated, contradictory relationship of corporate philanthropy to the corporation..." -- Choice"... this interesting and thought-provoking book should prove valuable to those interested in corporate philanthropy, as well as to those interested in the general position and power of business in American society" -- Organizations"... a discerning and nuanced historically-informed and ethically-framed sociological portrayal of the culture of corporate philanthropy. Elegantly conceived, gracefully written, and pertinent to the concerns of both scholars and practitioners... essential reading for anyone seriously interested in the public role of business in our turbulent times." -- ARNOVA News"... a fascinating account of the action behind the scenes in corporate giving." -- Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector QuarterlyAlthough American corporations give away several billion dollars a year to a range of philanthropic causes, this practice has come under fire recently, especially from the Right, because of grants to Planned Parenthood and other "liberal" public policy groups. Looking Good and Doing Good examines why corporate philanthropy has become politicized, how corporations respond to controversy, and what the conflicts tell us about corporate philanthropy and corporate politics.

Author Biography

Jerome L. Himmelstein is Professor of Sociology at Amherst College. His publications include To the Right: The Transformation of American Conservatism and The Strange Career of Marihuana: The Politics and Ideology of Drug Control in America.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction: Hanging Up on Planned Parenthood	p. 1
The Making of Corporate Philanthropy	p. 14
"A Wonderful Job": The Workaday Worldview of Corporate Philanthropists	p. 38
"The Struggle between Looking Good and Doing Good": The Dilemmas of Corporate Philanthropy	p. 56
Corporate Giving under Fire I: Planned Parenthood	p. 75
Corporate Giving under Fire II: The Capital Research Center	p. 104
Corporate Philanthropy and Corporate Politics	p. 125
Conclusion: An Economic Act with Social and Political Dimensions	p. 144
Notes	p. 151
Bibliography	p. 171
Index	p. 181
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.