Plutocratic Philanthropy

What kinds of elite influence count as undemocratic? Ongoing debates in American political science have called attention to the ability of the self-interested rich to convert money into influence over elected officials. This article argues that democratic criticism of elite influence should also extend to elite philanthropy. It uses the case of philanthropy to argue that elite influence can be undemocratic even when public-spirited in its motivations and even when it bypasses formal political institutions. So far, political theorists writing on philanthropy have focused on insulating formal political institutions from money’s influence or on ensuring tax fairness in incentivizing philanthropy. I argue that this focus is too narrow: democratizing philanthropy requires addressing the policy mechanisms and the public attitudes that privilege the wishes of donors over those of recipient organizations or the broader community.