Corporate philanthropy has become increasingly important to organizations providing voluntary services, particularly in light of recent reductions in government funding for service delivery. This paper is a critical review of the existing literature on corporate philanthropy. It is found that social science research on the patterns of corporate giving and on the reasons for corporate largesse has focused on national level observations and analysis, leaving many unanswered questions about geographic variations in corporate contributions behavior, and about the role of corporate giving in local politics and policymaking. An agenda for additional research on corporate philanthropy is outlined, focusing on urban and regional geographic questions that need to be addressed if governmental decentralization and social expenditure curtailment policies are to be adequately evaluated on equity and efficiency grounds.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AAFRC, 1980Giving USA: 1980 Annual ReportAmerican Association of Fund-Raising Council Inc., New York
2.
BakerR PJrShillingburgJ E, 1977, “Corporate charitable contributions” in Foundations, Private Giving and Public Policy: Report and Recommendations on Foundations and Private Philanthropy, Volume 3: Special Behavior Studies, Foundations and CorporationsCommission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs, FilerJ H, Chair (US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC) pp 1853–1905
3.
BaumolW J, 1970, “Enlightened self-interest and corporate philanthropy” in A New Rationale for Corporate Social Policy Eds BaumolW JLikertRWallichH CMcGowanJ J, (D C Heath, Lexington, MA) pp 3–19
4.
BennettJ TJohnsonM H, 1980, “Corporate contributions: Some additional considerations”Public Choice35137–143
5.
EellsR, 1956Corporate Giving in a Free Society (Harper and Row, New York)
6.
EellsR, 1968, “A philosophy for corporate giving”The Conference Board Record514–18
7.
Fremont-SmithM R, 1972Philanthropy and the Business Corporation (Russell Sage Foundation, New York)
8.
GalaskiewiczJ, 1982, “Corporate — nonprofit linkages in Minneapolis — St Paul: Preliminary findings from three surveys” unpublished manuscript, Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
9.
GeigerR KWolchJ R, 1984, “Resource command of voluntary organizations: Group power and governmental prerogatives” working paper, Planning Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
10.
HarrissC L, 1977, “Corporate giving: Rationale, issues, and opportunities” in Foundations, Private Giving and Public Policy: Report and Recommendations on Foundations and Private Philanthropy, Volume 3: Special Behavior Studies, Foundations and CorporationsCommission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs, FilerJ H, Chair (US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC) pp 1789–1825
11.
HBSCC, 1953Corporation Giving in Greater ClevelandHarvard Business School Club of Cleveland, Inc., Cleveland, OH
12.
IS, 1984Dimensions of the Independent SectorIndependent Sector, Inc., Washington, DC
13.
JohnsonO, 1966, “Corporate philanthropy: An analysis of corporate contributions”Journal of Business39489–504
14.
JohnsonOJohnsonW L, 1970, “The income elasticity of corporate philanthropy: Comment”Journal of Finance25149–152
15.
KeimG DMeinersR EFreyL W, 1980, “On the evaluation of corporate contributions”Public Choice35129–136
16.
KirschtenD, 1981, “In the eyes of the administration, charity begins with the private sector”National Journal137–9
17.
LevyF KShattoG M, 1978, “The evaluation of corporate contributions”Public Choice3319–28
18.
LippinP, 1981, “When business and the community ‘cooperate’”Administrative Management February issue, 34–36; 66; 70; 72
19.
MaddoxK E, 1981Corporate Philanthropy unpublished PhD dissertation, Department of Economics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
20.
MoskowitzM, 1977, “Corporate charitable contributions and corporate social responsibility” in Foundations, Private Giving and Public Policy: Report and Recommendations on Foundations and Private Philanthropy, Volume 3: Special Behavior Studies, Foundations and CorporationsCommission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs, Chair J H Filer (US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC) pp 1827–1838
21.
NealA C, 1968, “A more rational basis for nonprofit activities”The Conference Board Report55–7
22.
NelsonR, 1970Economic Factors in the Growth of Corporate Giving (National Bureau of Economic Research, New York)
23.
NoyelleT J, 1983, “The rise of advanced services: Some implications for economic development in US cities”Journal of the American Planning Association49280–290
24.
SchwartzR A, 1968, “Corporate philanthropic contributions”Journal of Finance23479–497
25.
TroyK, 1982Annual Survey of Corporate ContributionsThe Conference Board, Inc., New York
26.
TurnerW H, 1968, “The societal role of the corporation”The Conference Board Report511–13
27.
TuthillM, 1980, “The growing impact of business giving”Nations Business68 (10) 66–70
28.
VasquezT, 1977, “Corporate giving measures” in Foundations, Private Giving and Public Policy: Report and Recommendations on Foundations and Private Philanthropy, Volume 3: Special Behavior Studies, Foundations and CorporationsCommission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs, FilerJ H, Chair (US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC) pp 1839–1852
29.
WatsonJ HIII, 1972Biennial Survey of Company ContributionsThe Conference Board, Inc., New York
30.
WhiteheadP J, 1976Some Economic Aspects of Corporate Giving unpublished PhD dissertation, Department of Economics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
31.
WolpertJReinerT A, 1980, “Metropolitan Philadelphia Philanthropy Study” unpublished manuscript, Metropolitan Philanthropy Project, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
