A Gift of Belief: Economic Development and New Forms of Philanthropy

A Gift of Belief: Pittsburgh's Titans of Philanthropy and their Lasting Legacy

A Gift of Belief: Philanthropy and the Forging of Pittsburgh chronicles the rich but largely untold story of the diverse and lesser known philanthropists whose legacy shaped the region.

This season of Speaking of Change invites philanthropic practitioners and community leaders to comment on the book's themes and draw parallels and lessons to inform current practice.

Pittsburgh and the word philanthropy are often inextricably linked. Ask a Pittsburgher to define philanthropy and most often you’ll hear name like Carnegie, or a financier called Mellon. These captains of industry endowed Pittsburgh with numerous cultural and educational institutions. Their legacies endure in Pittsburgh today – so much so that many residents think these titans invented philanthropy in the region. 

In fact, they did not. Instead, these wealthy industrialists joined an already vital tradition of individuals, communities and congregations who pre-ceded and succeeded them. In
A Gift of Belief, 12 authors show how women, African Americans whole communities and many individuals worked alongside and sometimes in place of the titans to improve Pittsburgh. Taken
together, our more expansive treatment illustrates how both groups contributed to Pittsburgh’s philanthropy and civic culture.

Book editor Kathy Buechel sits down with chapter author Greg Witkowski of Columbia University to discuss Pittsburgh's titans of philanthropy what made them tick. Greg's chapter sketched how they differed from their industrialist peers in their giving and specifically, in how they framed their philanthropic support of education. Kathy and Greg sit down in this episode to dig into the details and hear lesser known parts of how the titans approached their philanthropy, and how history remembers them.

A Gift of Belief: Economic Development and New Forms of Philanthropy

A Gift of Belief: Philanthropy and the Forging of Pittsburgh chronicles the rich but largely untold story of the diverse and lesser known philanthropists whose legacy shaped the region.

This season of Speaking of Change invites philanthropic practitioners and community leaders to comment on the book's themes and draw parallels and lessons to inform current practice.

Book editor Kathy Buechel sits down with chapter author Bob Gleeson of Cleveland State University. Bob and Kathy discuss . Pittsburgh is a city with a long history of business driving economic development. But what about how philanthropists may have supported Pittsburgh’s own economic transformation. Did private philanthropy play apart in this part of Pittsburgh’s story? If so, what did they do and why?

Bob and Kathy dig into the answers in this episode. And, the two discuss progress yet to be made and what the future of the field may hold for economic progress and philanthropy's supporting role.

A Gift of Belief: Philanthropy and Improving Health Outcomes in Pittsburgh

A Gift of Belief: Philanthropy and the Forging of Pittsburgh chronicles the rich but largely untold story of the diverse and lesser known philanthropists whose legacy shaped the region.

This season of Speaking of Change invites philanthropic practitioners and community leaders to comment on the book's themes and draw parallels and lessons to inform current practice.

Book editor Kathy Buechel sits down with chapter author Andrew Simpson of Duquesne University. Andrew and Kathy unpack how philanthropists found niches of opportunity to advance medical science and improve health outcomes in the Pittsburgh region.

A Gift of Belief: Advocacy, Agency, and Philanthropy in Pittsburgh

A Gift of Belief: Philanthropy and the Forging of Pittsburgh chronicles the rich but largely untold story of the diverse and lesser known philanthropists whose legacy shaped the region.

This season of Speaking of Change invites philanthropic practitioners and community leaders to comment on the book's themes and draw parallels and lessons to inform current practice.

Book editor Kathy Buechel sits down with Heather Arnet  of the Women and Girls Foundation of Southwestern PA and chapter author Tony Macklin of Tony Macklin Consulting. Heather, Tony, and Kathy discuss the tool of advocacy in philanthropic practice - how different foundations have used this tool, some of its successes and stumbling blocks, and how individuals gained agency through philanthropic advocacy.

A Gift of Belief: Advocacy, Agency, and Philanthropy in Pittsburgh

A Gift of Belief: Philanthropy and the Forging of Pittsburgh chronicles the rich but largely untold story of the diverse and lesser known philanthropists whose legacy shaped the region.

This season of Speaking of Change invites philanthropic practitioners and community leaders to comment on the book's themes and draw parallels and lessons to inform current practice.

Book editor Kathy Buechel sits down with Heather Arnet  of the Women and Girls Foundation of Southwestern PA and chapter author Tony Macklin of Tony Macklin Consulting. Heather, Tony, and Kathy discuss the tool of advocacy in philanthropic practice - how different foundations have used this tool, some of its successes and stumbling blocks, and how individuals gained agency through philanthropic advocacy.