American Generosity: Who Gives and Why

American Generosity: Who Gives and Why

American charitable giving veers from the hyperbolically generous to the hyperbolically stingy. On some days, no one has a quarter to spare; in times of disaster, Americans will put their lives on hold to build houses for those displaced by hurricanes. The crucial question of who gives and why they do it lies at the heart of American Generosity . Patricia Snell Herzog and Heather E. Price, sociologists who focus on philanthropy, draw on findings from the groundbreaking Science of Generosity initiative, which combines a nationally representative survey of adult Americans with in-depth interviews and case studies. For most Americans, they find, the important forms of giving are: donating money, volunteering time, and taking political action. Focusing on these three types of activity, the authors go on to examine and analyze multiple dimensions of resources, social status, regional cultural norms, different approaches to giving, social-psychological orientation, and the relational contexts of generosity. Herzog and Price conclude that giving is supported by "circles of generosity," which ripple outward in their reach to targets of giving. The book offers not just analysis, but practical tips for readers who want to increase their own giving, for parents modeling giving to their children, spouses desiring alignment in their giving, and friends and community members seeking to support giving by others. The authors also provide explicit fundraising ideas for nonprofits, foundations, and religious leaders. Thought-provoking and accessibly written, American Generosity lays out a broad yet nuanced explanation of giving that sheds important new light on a topic that touches all of us in one way or another. "Herzog and Price marshal a wide range of data-including both hard numbers and personal stories-to examine the factors that explain generous behavior. They show that generosity isn't just based on what you're able to give. It's based on who you are, how you think, and with whom you are in relationship. This will become a standard reference for understanding patterns of philanthropic behavior." -Brian Steensland, Professor of Sociology, Indiana University-Indianapolis " American Generosity provides an engaging investigation into who gives and why. Patricia Snell Herzog and Heather E. Price deftly combine analyses of survey data with in-depth interviews to produce a comprehensive picture of the diversity of American giving today. Detailed case studies provide real world anchors to statistics - creating a page-turner. With relevance to individual givers, educators, and nonprofit professionals, the book is a must read for anyone interested in generosity and giving in American life." -Pamela Paxton, Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs and Christine and Stanley E. Adams, Jr. Centennial Professor in the Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin " American Generosity is a thoughtfully crafted project that offers significant contributions to the growing body of scholarship on the subject of financial giving. This study is the first of which I am aware to examine the contours and antecedents of generosity using such rich data sources, ranging from surveys to qualitative interviews and ethnographic research. Given the triangulation of these various methods and data sources along with the employment of a sound and eclectic theoretical approach, the volume offers a holistic examination of the subject." -John P. Bartkowski, Associate Editor of the Scientific Study of Religion "In American Generosity , sociologists Patricia Herzog and Heather Price provide comprehensive, detailed, and realistic portraits of generosity among American adults... American Generosity is an academically sound and highly accessible book. Practitioners, general readers, as well as scholars will find it rewarding."-- Sociology of Religion A broad yet nuanced examination of charitable giving that answers the simple but confounding question: who gives - and why? Patricia Snell Herzog is a co-investigator on the Science of Generosity Initiative and Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas. She is the co-author of Souls in Transition (2009) and Lost in Transition (2011). Heather E. Price is a co-investigator on the Science of Generosity Phase II. Previously Price was Assistant Director of the Center for the Study of Religion at the University of Notre Dame.