Robert H. Bremner's American Philanthropy, was written as part of the Chicago History of American Civilization, remains the premier reference on the subject. In his introduction to the text, Bremner defines the goal of philanthropy as the "improvement in the quality of human life. … to promote the welfare, happiness, and culture of mankind."

What role, then, does philanthropy play in U.S. society? Again, according to Bremner, "Voluntary benevolence has played a large role and performed important functions in American society. … It has been one of the principal methods of social advance. … The record of American philanthropy is so impressive that it would require several lengthy volumes to list its achievements. …"

In describing the scope of philanthropic endeavors in the United States, Bremner writes:

We are all, in some degree, beneficiaries of philanthropy whenever we attend church, go to college, visit museums or concert halls, draw books from libraries, obtain treatment at hospitals, or spend leisure hours in parks. Most of us use, or may have occasion to use, institutions and services now tax-supported, which originated as philanthropic enterprises. We continue to rely on philanthropy for the support of scientific research, for experimentation in the field of social relations, and for diffusion of knowledge in all branches of learning.

How did philanthropy come to play such a key role in providing essential elements of life in the United States? According to the Council on Foundations, charitable giving in the United States "has strong roots in religious beliefs, in the history of mutual assistance, in the democratic principles of civic participation, in pluralistic approaches to problem solving, and in American traditions of individual autonomy and limited government."

A list of U.S. foundations and major benefactors reads like a "Who's Who" of American history, society, and industry. Leaders in the fields of business and industry, entertainment, and sports use their fame and their personal wealth to create and underwrite projects throughout the world.

While large foundations distribute thousands of millions of dollars for causes across the United States and the world, individual Americans regularly donate more than seven times as much through their personal gifts, bequests, and contributions to causes they, themselves, have chosen. Examples include organized giving at offices, a fund-raising jar on the counter at a small business, collecting money for a local family in need, and teaching children the powerful feeling of helping make a difference through a charitable project of their school or club.

From small, spontaneous outpourings of support for a specific cause, to organizations with a staff and structure to rival a multinational corporation, there are many variations of philanthropy in the United States. This issue of eJournal USA discusses the history, variety, and some key examples of this aspect of U.S. society, helping describe a phenomenon that is viewed proudly by Americans as an important societal strength that gives citizens connection to and control over programs that might otherwise be handled by government.

The examples presented in this journal are illustrative of the types of giving going on in the United States, but for each group, corporation, or program mentioned, there are thousands of others we could have featured. We hope readers will use these examples to start their own exploration of this inspiring topic.

The Editors

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