Helping Others, Helping Ourselves: Power, Giving and Community Identity in Cleveland, Ohio, 1880-1930

This study dramatically opens the door to view philanthropy in terms of who gives, the nature of those gifts, and the motivation of the givers. It becomes clear that no group could claim a monopoly on giving and that the poor, working class and middle classes had their own agendas for giving that differed… from the wealthy benefactors. –James Borchert, Cleveland State University

Individuals and communities have historically reinforced values and shaped society in ways that best fit their own objectives. This exciting new study reevaluates the crucial interaction between religious, ethnic-, racial, -gender-, and class-based values and ideals and giving. It explores the nature and meaning if giving in urban America by examining the African American and Italian populations of Cleveland.