Looking Good and Doing Good

"Highly recommended!" —New Directions in Philanthropy". . . clearly written, well-structured, and amply documented . . . Himmelstein's study vividly portrays the complicated, contradictory relationship of corporate philanthropy to the corporation . . ." —Choice". . . this interesting and thought-provoking book should prove valuable to those interested in corporate philanthropy, as well as to those interested in the general position and power of business in American society" —Organizations". . . a discerning and nuanced historically-informed and ethically-framed sociological portrayal of the culture of corporate philanthropy. Elegantly conceived, gracefully written, and pertinent to the concerns of both scholars and practitioners . . . essential reading for anyone seriously interested in the public role of business in our turbulent times." —ARNOVA News" . . . a fascinating account of the action behind the scenes in corporate giving." —Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector QuarterlyAlthough American corporations give away several billion dollars a year to a range of philanthropic causes, this practice has come under fire recently, especially from the Right, because of grants to Planned Parenthood and other "liberal" public policy groups. Looking Good and Doing Good examines why corporate philanthropy has become politicized, how corporations respond to controversy, and what the conflicts tell us about corporate philanthropy and corporate politics.