10+ Best Articles on Philanthropy
The most useful articles and videos on philanthropy from around the web, curated by thought leaders and our community.
Refind focuses on timeless pieces and updates the list whenever new, must-read articles or videos are discovered.
Top 5 Philanthropy Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved on philanthropy by Refind users in 2026 so far.
Videos
Watch a video to get a quick overview.
How America’s richest donate their money
Billionaires don’t give the same way we do.Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Every year, publications...
Rory Stewart: To end extreme poverty, give cash — not advice
Are traditional philanthropy efforts actually taking money from the poor? Former UK Member of Parliament Rory Stewart breaks down why many global development projects waste money on programs that…
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles on philanthropy—all under 10 minutes.
I give 10 percent of my income to charity. You should, too.
Regular giving, even in small amounts, can save lives.
MacKenzie Scott is shaking up philanthropy's traditions. Is that a good thing?
Donations often come with rigorous applications and reporting requirements. Billionaire MacKenzie Scott, who divorced Jeff Bezos in 2019 and vowed to give away most of her fortune, does it her way.
Would the World Be Better Off Without Philanthropists?
Critics say that big-time donors wield too much power over their fellow-citizens and perpetuate social inequality. But don’t cancel Lady Bountiful just yet.
Reimagining Philanthropy to Build a Culture of Repair
For philanthropy to heal, it must see reparations as central to its work. This means not only transferring control of assets to communities, but also embedding repair into its practices.
Why Philanthropy Is No Longer Just for the Rich
Here’s how the rules of philanthropy are changing — and how you can get involved.
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles on philanthropy.
Jeff Bezos wants the world to know he’s a philanthropist
The Amazon founder has committed to giving most of his money to charity — and he’s got roughly $120 billion to burn. How’s he doing?
On the Differences Between Ecomodernism and Effective Altruism
In short: an unscalable ecocentrism, an unworkable longtermism, and an impractical anti-institutionalism.
Effective altruism’s most controversial idea
Longtermism is influencing billionaires and politicians. Should it guide the future of humanity?
How philanthropy benefits the super-rich
The long read: There are more philanthropists than ever before. Each year they give tens of billions to charitable causes. So how come inequality keeps rising?
Billionaires get too much credit for philanthropy
The ultrawealthy are donating more than ever. That doesn’t mean the rest of us are giving less.
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