A Defining Moment in American Philanthropy (1995)
This essay was prepared for the National College of Industrial Relations in Dublin, Ireland. It marks the twentieth anniversary of the Filer Commission and explores the idea of a second Filer Commission.
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A Tradition of Voluntary Service (1993)
“The only way out of our moral and economic slough of despond is the fragile and uncertain tradition of voluntary service.” At 67 years old, Payton observes many societal ills in America and suggests a work force of volunteers could help address some of these problems. The benefits of volunteering are not reserved for the beneficiaries. Rather, “voluntary service reminds us that we depend on other humans on whom we have no other claim than a moral one.”
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Demographics, Democracy, and Education (1986)
Written in 1985, a discussion of the implications of an increasingly aged and ethnically diverse America. The experiences of France, the Soviet Union, Iran, and the United Republic Cameroon are used to illustrate the impact of such changes on modern societies. Payton argues that a less Western America, “will force us to think more carefully about the Western values that should be preserved.”
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Gospel 2 (1992)
Payton creates an ethical will; his hopes for his children and grandchildren. The ethical will asserts four basic values: self help, mutual aid, government assistance, and philanthropy.
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Lessons in Community Philanthropy (1996)
Social trust is more important than partisan ideology when societies are working to ensure social well-being. Payton asserts that, "people of very different beliefs can identify with the need for social trust – a community of high social trust is a community where everyone matters. Social trust calls for individual responsibility along with an assumption that there is a collective responsibility as well."
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Money and Ideas: Foundations and Higher Education in the 1990s (1990)
In “Money and Ideas” Payton looks to the giving pattern rationale and of such philanthropists as Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and Mrs. Russell Sage. He then goes on to explore the relationship between foundations and universities. This relationship will be ever changing and must strive to accommodate the priorities of both parties.
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Our Greatest Need: Human Rather Than Financial Resources (2000)
In this essay Payton highlights the importance of human rather than financial resources. “Perhaps it is not more money that philanthropy needs but better ideas and deeper commitment, a clearer sense of what is going on, more reflection on and discussion of the good life and the good society.”
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Philanthropy and Patriotism ()
Payton claims that American patriotism is in jeopardy. He stresses that both patriotism and philanthropy are necessary for a flourishing American democracy.
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Philanthropy and the Rights of the Child (1991)
This essay is a response to the call for ratification of the U.N. Convention
on the Rights of the Child. It is a discussion of the limitations of the
legal solutions to problems in society. Considering political philosopher
Stephen Lukes' three dimensions of power, the essay concludes that though
government has the power to change laws, philanthropy has the ability to
influence consciousness. Only through cooperation among the sectors can
long-term change be achieved.
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Philanthropy as a Concept (1987)
Payton writes that, "philanthropy is an 'essentially contested concept,' an idea that is bent and distorted by attempts to contain within it a diversity of human phenomenon that resist generalization and categorization. Philanthropy has changed in definition – been modified in definition – by the deliberate intellectual effort to find a word that would identify different concepts…"
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Racial Harmony (1992)
In this essay Payton analyzes the elusiveness of racial harmony. He claims that it is time to reassess the mission of the civil rights movement. Payton asserts, “Mutual respect must be based on earning respect rather than on claiming it as a right of race or social position.” Payton stresses the importance of citizens’ working together to achieve a harmonious society.
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Terrorism as Mugging (2001)
This email message was the seventh of nine messages sent by Payton to the Jane Addams-Andrew Carnegie Fellowship list serve following the events of September 11th. Payton provides two accounts of terror: a shooting in Broadripple and a mugging in midtown Manhattan. After feelings of fear, the victims were struck by melancholy. Payton maintains, “It is a dangerous world but our task is to make it safer, not enclose ourselves in a protected space.”
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The Impact of Individuals on Philanthropy in America (1995)
American philanthropy is described as a mosaic of cultural influence. This essay focuses on some of the best known figures in the history of American philanthropy. Written in 1995, it concludes with speculation about the impact on George Soros on the future of central and eastern europe.
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The Philanthropic Response ()
"Because philanthropy is a large and complex subject, in developing an understanding of it we make a great many important assumptions about the world in which philanthropy makes sense." This essay provides a summary of Payton's world views – of the human condition and human nature – and examines meliorism, the philosophy he finds, "most congenial to the philanthropic response."
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Tool of Thought (2001)
This email message was the second of nine messages sent by Payton to the Jane Addams-Andrew Carnegie Fellowship list serve following the events of September 11th. Payton offers a tool of thought that provides 5 levels of awareness. He admits that exploring these levels has brought moments of “great sadness—that this could happen to the world I will leave to my students and my two grandsons.”
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A Future Filer (1995)
A discussion of the impact of the 1975 Filer Commission on Private Philanthropy and Public Needs, and a call for a second such study, "Filer II." “I credit the Filer Commission with contributing to mythistory by adding the concept of the three-sector society to the public discourse.” The task of a second commission would be to examine the “ageless rationale” for philanthropy in America.
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Athens or Jerusalem (1989)
Two powerful influences on American society are compared: Ancient Greece and Ancient Judaism and Christianity. Out of one comes concepts such as justice, individualism, rationality, and private charity. Typifying this tradition was Andrew Carnegie. Out of the other comes brotherly love, socialism, religious thought, and public charity. From this tradition are John D. Rockefeller and Walter Rauschenbusch. Though Americans are children of both traditions, modern American society has effectively chosen Athens over Jerusalem.
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Donor Priorities (1996)
Politicians who cut the American welfare budget can’t assume that philanthropic dollars will fill the resulting vacuum of social services. American Philanthropic giving patterns have historically been oriented towards religion, higher education and health, rather than human services, welfare and traditional charity for people who are most in need.
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How American Society Really Works (1994)
In this essay, Payton discusses the four elements that make America work: self-help, mutual aid, government assistance and philanthropy. Unfortunately, much of American political discourse centers solely around government assistance. Liberals tend to neglect the importance of self-help and mutual aid and understate the importance of philanthropy, while conservatives tend to downplay the role of government assistance and overstate that of philanthropy.
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Missing the Point: Where Philanthropy and Healthcare Go Wrong (1997)
Payton writes that, "the point of this essay is that the stewards of health care and philanthropy have lost touch with the moral values of the society that calls them into being and that sustains them as institutions and as practitioners. What is missing from health care and philanthropy these days is ideals."
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Mr. Carnegie's Challenge (1991)
This essay analyzes Andrew Carnegie's "Gospel of Wealth." It also addresses American capitalism, wealth surplus, and the habits of wealthy Americans.
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Philanthropy and Democracy (1991)
Asserting that democracy is a precondition to everything else, this essay explores the United States' three sector society. It describes how freedom in the classroom is essential.
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Philanthropy and Reform in Eastern Europe (1991)
Analyzing the reform of Russia and Eastern Europe, Payton highlights the importance of voluntary associations in these new democracies. A third sector will be able to address the problems left by government and market shortcomings. In addition, Payton argues that these new democratic governments must provide protections for religious practices as religious organizations play a major role in the voluntary sector.
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Philanthropy and the Social Crisis ()
Examining the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan, Payton highlights the importance of helping those in need. He maintains that true philanthropy means taking risks, showing compassion, and helping others.
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Philanthropy as Public Policy ()
In this essay, Payton introduces the core values behind government, business and philanthropy.
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Religion, Politics, and Philanthropy (1996)
Religious congregations are important to philanthropy and one must respect their activity and drive to help those most in need. However, one must also recognize that much of religious philanthropy occurs in the realm of charity. It is a rare person in the religious community -a prophet perhaps- who "would mobilize the religious congregation, into an instrument of social change, reform, or even revolution."
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The Great Relearning (2001)
This email message was the sixth of nine messages sent by Payton to the Jane Addams-Andrew Carnegie Fellowship list serve following the events of September 11th. The great relearning, Payton suggests, is a process facing Americans and more broadly the Western world. Through the great relearning, we might come to a better understanding of our world and our relationship to those in Eastern and Middle Eastern worlds.
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The Mission of Philanthropy in the Univeristy (1994)
Payton gave this lecture at an Independent Sector Research Symposium, honoring Brian O'Connell. In it, he discusses the diverse yet interrelated reasons for studying philanthropy, including the idea that "organized philanthropy is essential to a free, open and democratic society."
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Tolerance: Thoughts on the Group Topic (2000)
This piece was written to JAF IX as an introduction to the semester's topic and readings. Payton writes, "..We shouldn't think about philanthropy and ethnic conflict or philanthropy and tolerance without looking at them through the lenses of human nature and ideology."
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