Philanthropy Is a Scam

The superrich often claim their philanthropy is meant to “change the world.” But it’s really meant to keep it exactly the way it is.

The Perils of Liberal Philanthropy

The history of the Black Power movement offers a cautionary tale about the warping effects of liberal philanthropy’s soft power.

The Philanthropy Hustle

Global North or South, private foundations are part of the problem, not the solution.

The Ultrarich Don’t Deserve Our Gratitude for Small Acts of Philanthropy

We have so many miseries in American society because rich people are hoarding all of our resources. We shouldn’t applaud them when they toss us a few dollars as philanthropy.

The Magic of Philanthropy

With all life on Planet Earth in the process of being consumed by capitalism, the literal belief in otherworldly magic is something that concerned citizens should be very worried about.

“Woke” or Not, Philanthropy Is a Great Deal for Big Tech

Big tech’s woke era may be over for now. But wealthy elites like Mark Zuckerberg will continue to find philanthropic giving a preferred way to control their wealth and expand their influence, no matter what causes their money goes to.

The World Would Be a Better Place Without the Rich

They coarsen our culture, erode our economic future, and diminish our democracy. The ultra-rich have no redeeming social value.

The Problem With Capitalist Philanthropy

Philanthropists like Howard Buffett are the darlings of journalists and the NGO world — but are they really helping Africa?

“Generous” Billionaires Are Part of the Problem

Modern-day elite philanthropy serves the same purpose as it did in the days of the robber barons: reinforcing the power of the rich.

Jeff Bezos’s Charitable Giving Is Another Billionaire Scam

The recent announcement that Jeff Bezos is donating the bulk of his vast fortune to charity should be recognizable to everyone at this point: it’s a tried-and-true scheme to rehabilitate his public image while avoiding paying taxes.

The Philanthropic Complex

American Philanthropy and its Discontents

Philanthropy thrills to begging and tolerates activism, but cannot abide a demand from those it wants to save.

Against Charity

Rather than creating an individualized “culture of giving,” we should be challenging capitalism’s institutionalized taking.

The Philanthropy Racket

Philanthropy is how the global elite cast themselves as do-gooders — the people destroying the world are posing as its saviors.

There’s No Such Thing as Good Philanthropy

In the world of philanthropy, George Soros is about as good as it gets. But allowing plutocrats, even progressive ones, to decide what's best for the rest of us is fundamentally unjust and undemocratic.

Private Charity Has Become Just Another Scam for the 1 Percent

We were told that the generosity of the rich would make up for cuts to government services. But those at the top are increasingly using dubious “charitable” ventures as vehicles for profit and influence.

Thanks, Harvard. But We’ll Take What’s Ours.

Harvard is worried because people increasingly don’t seem to like capitalism. But elite universities and billionaires are part of the problem, not the solution.

Do Not Welcome Our New Billionaire Overlords

Billionaires now hold so much of the world’s wealth, their apologists argue, there’s no choice but to rely on them for philanthropy. But we can’t take our eyes off the ball: We need to tax the ultrarich out of existence.

Bill Gates’s Philanthropic Giving Is a Racket

Bill Gates recently resigned from the board of Microsoft to focus full time on philanthropy. It’s a perfect time to remember: billionaire-funded philanthropy is a public-relations scam.

Richard DeVos, Great American Scam Artist

Right-wing billionaire Richard DeVos, who died at ninety-two last week, tried to cover up his life’s record — pioneering the cruel pyramid scheme Amway, attacking organized labor, fighting LGBTQ equality — with philanthropy. But he should be remembered as a bigoted con artist.