Understanding Our Philanthropic Commons
Will be published approx. on 30. November 2026
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-1-009-45308-0 (ISBN)
Description
Understanding Our Philanthropic Commons boldly rethinks giving and volunteering as part of a shared resource system-a philanthropic 'commons'. Drawing on the influential frameworks of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom and the Ostrom Workshop, this book equips readers with accessible tools, including the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework, Social-Ecological Systems (SES), Institutional Grammar, and Design Principles for self-governance. Using case studies ranging from giving circles and donor-advised funds to workplace campaigns and volunteer management, the authors show how rules, norms, and strategies create institutional arrangements that shape philanthropic behaviour. Fresh insights are offered into addressing philanthropic social dilemmas-such as declines in giving and volunteering-amid technological, social, and economic change. This book is ideal for scholars, nonprofit leaders, policy professionals, and students seeking to understand how to sustainably govern giving resources, and for anyone interested in philanthropy. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Reviews / Votes
''Understanding Our Philanthropic Commons' offers a systematic, timely, and much-needed exploration of philanthropy as a set of community-based institutions and practices. Building on the commons research of Elinor Ostrom, the editors have produced a book that should inspire scholars, guide policymakers, and bring out the best in practitioners.' Michael J. Madison, University of Pittsburgh School of Law 'To study the philanthropic commons is to study humanity's shared gifts. The many disciplines of the many authors contributing to 'Understanding the Philanthropic Commons' illustrate how apt the principles of the Ostrom Workshop are in exploring the give, take and share economy in the charitable sector. A necessary and timely inquiry about communal and contested philanthropic resources.' Cindy M. Lott, Indiana University Lilly Family School of PhilanthropyMore details
Other editions
Additional editions
Brent Never | Brenda K. Bushouse | Robert K. Christensen
Understanding Our Philanthropic Commons
Book
approx. 11/2026
Cambridge University Press
€52.50
Not yet published
Persons
Brent Never is Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and Director of the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership. He and his team collaborate with hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the region. Brenda K. Bushouse is Professor of Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research expands our understanding of nonprofit organizations, public policy processes, and contributions to the public good. Her work can be found in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly and Policy Studies Journal, among others. Robert K. Christensen is George W. Romney Professor of Public and Nonprofit Administration at Brigham Young University. He is an expert in public and nonprofit management and his work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. He specializes in public service motivation, volunteerism and workplace philanthropy. He co-edits the Cambridge University Press Elements series in Public and Nonprofit Administration.
Content
1. Moving from micro to meso and macro: philanthropy's institutional environment Robert K. Christensen, Brenda K. Bushouse and Brent Never; 2. Institutional arrangements for giving time and money Brent Never, Robert K. Christensen and Brenda K. Bushouse; 3. Analytical frameworks and tools for institutional analysis Brenda K. Bushouse, Brent Never and Robert K. Christensen; 4. Exploring the philanthropic commons by combining commons theorizing and higher education philanthropy research William Blomquist and Genevieve G. Shaker; 5. The gift that keeps on giving: nonprofit impact investing funds and the philanthropic commons Emily Barman; 6. Giving circles and the philanthropic commons Angela M. Eikenberry and Brenda K. Bushouse; 7. Donor advised funds: innovation and social dilemma in philanthropy as a commons Dan Heist and Jenna Tomlinson; 8. Adaptability of Ostrom's design principles to community philanthropy: a case study of the united way Eleanor Brilliant and Laurie E. Paarlberg; 9. Sustaining local philanthropic commons through community leadership: the case of community foundations Viviana C. S. Wu; 10. Foundations, participatory grantmaking, and the commons David Suarez; 11. Philanthropy, Ostromian governance, and institutional analysis Malavika Nair; 12. Overcoming the philanthropic social dilemma: case studies of institutional arrangements that support increasing giving Danielle Vance-McMullen; 13. A shock to the commons: nonprofits and philanthropy in the wake of climate disaster Brenna Jungers, Evan Perry and Drew E. Westberg; 14. Exploring the norms of robber baron philanthropy Eva Witesman; 15. Prosocial values for the philanthropic commons Rene Bekkers; 16. Making the volunteer resources commons sustainable and circular Lucas C. P. M. Meijs, Stephanie A. Koolen-Maas, Philine S. M. van Overbeeke and Jeffrey L. Brudney; 17. Examining the role of social trust in maintenance and sustainability of voluntary common pool resources Jessica Word; 18. Volunteering as a commons: sustaining volunteer energy through a common-pool resource arrangement Lina Ochoa-Carreno; 19. Volunteering as a common pool resource: the case of volunteer retirement among older adults Allison Russell, Femida Handy and Brent Never; 20. Win-win-lose? Toward mutually beneficial corporate volunteering Sue Carter Kahl; 21. Conclusion: paths forward in the philanthropy commons Brent Never, Brenda K. Bushouse and Robert K. Christensen; Index.