Not knowing, not working, not right: three ongoing troubles with philanthropy

This piece examines three enduring challenges that continue to shape and constrain philanthropy: uncertainty about what philanthropy is and the knowledge on which it rests (not knowing); a widening gap between ambition and achievement driven by structures and practices that privilege reassurance over responsiveness (not working); and growing tensions around legitimacy, boundaries, and moral authority as private discretion increasingly substitutes for public responsibility (not right). Taken together, these challenges limit philanthropy’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to the public good. Addressing them requires greater intellectual humility, wiser practice, and renewed attention to, and interrogation of, philanthropy’s appropriate role within democratic societies. The piece is published as part of the CSPPG blog and working paper series. A revised academic version may be submitted for journal publication.