Philanthropy as Acte Gratuite

Private philanthropy as self-expression, not just means to a strategic end. Sean Stannard-Stockton at Chronicle of Philanthropy takes up that thought, in the spirit, it would seem, of H. Peter Karoff. In one of his essays, Peter likens a philanthropic role model to Midori teaching a gifted protegee how to play the violin. We are probably getting to the point where advertising, like poetry, is becoming an end in itself, as is the art of political spin. I can see how the masters of such a craft would do it for nothing, or pay to do it, for the sheer joy of it.  I'll bet there are some too who would do enhanced interrogation, or blow a city to bits, even knowing that it would yield no real benefit, for the sheer visceral joy of it. There is no accounting for taste. 

Comments

[Jeremy Gregg]

Oh, how great a world in which this were understood and practiced by the powers that be...

"Organizations and consultants that focus on philanthropy must recognize that they are in the business of spreading ideas and rendering them into tangible results. They can't expect good results if they focus only on helping institutions become more effective grant makers."

[Phil Cubeta]

Brand builders describe the brand as a "protagonist." All the good story tellers work for Mad Ave or Hollywood. Who will tell the story of the donor as protagonist, one whose virtues exemplify a tradition, a saga, an epic? I would be happy to do it, and I work cheap.