# Richer Lives – why rich people give (book review)

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/10/03/richer-lives-why-rich-people-give-book-review/
- Published: 2013-10-03T11:45:38+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Richer Lives – why rich people give

by Beth Breeze and Theresa Lloyd

Directory of Social Change

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30 September 2013

ISBN-13:978 1 906294 79 3

£15

This is an excellent addition to the literature which attempts to describe the giving
motivations and behaviour of those supporting charities. It builds upon Theresa 
Lloyd’s earlier 2004 work: Why Rich People Give, re-interviewing 40 of the original
participants and adding new interviews with 42 more emerging philanthropists. To
date philanthropy has often had bad press in the UK being seen only as the plaything
of the uber-rich. This work goes some way to debunking that assertion.

The insights are valuable for academics and fundraising practitioners alike and 
underline a lot of what has already been observed about the philanthropy of individuals
in the UK. The research methodology appears pragmatic but well-structured and appropriate.

Whilst there is a large body of work attempting to describe and analyse giving behaviour
there is considerably less concerning the more subtle interactions between givers
and the causes to whom they give money and time. This is interestingly discussed
in relation to givers involvement with their supported charities and the degree 
to which they also volunteer. Similarly the chapter on “Being asked and asking” 
reflects previous research into the “Spectrum of Philanthropy” and is welcome further
evidence of the relevance of the “Space Between” as psychologists call the creative
interactions between two parties allowed to explore the issues between them.

The chapters on why rich people give (and don’t give) also provide further evidence
of the need by fundraisers to understand fully the processes going on and the need
for academics to conduct more rigorous investigations into this under-researched
area.

It may yet not answer the question of the motivations for rich people to give to
charity, but all in all it’s not only a valuable publication but also a good read.

Peter Maple (© 2013)

_Peter Maple is Course Director MSc Management in Civil Society at [LSBU](http://www.lsbu.ac.uk)_