Giving Thought

In episode 51, we explore philanthropic pledges: what are they, do they work and how have they been used to drive more and better giving? Including:   Mackenzie Bezos’ recent decision to join the Giving Pledge has been widely reported. But how successful has this initiative been overall? Who are the notable signatories and the notable absences from the Giving Pledge? Why have some people not signed? Has the Giving Pledge shifted the level of giving by the ultra wealthy? Has it had any impact on overall levels of giving? What can we learn from the pledge letters of GP signatories? Does the GP lack the tools to hold signatories to their pledges? Should it? Is the GP’s scope less radical than it might have been, and why? What of other pledge initiatives like the Founders Pledge? Does a pledge represent an expectation that a certain level of wealth comes with responsibilities to give, or is it entirely voluntary? What does academic research tell us about the economics and psychology of pledges? Why are the conce