Can we save the world through generosity? Philanthropy scholarship in the age of the megafoundation

In this essay, the author reflects in the first person on the history and development of philanthropy scholarship in the United States. The discourse is presented contrasting the political and social contexts of his country and internationally, along his forty years of professional career, from his relationship with the most renowned actors in the field, and his experience inside and leading different academic institutions and philanthropic organizations. In the same way, he also reflects on the current trends of philanthropy scholarship produced by the wealth redistribution that has been happening in recent decades, and the phenomenon of the megafoundation, associated with the embracement of terminology and practices influenced by the business community. With a high sense of social responsibility, the author bets for the vigilant role and critic commitment of academic research on the dilemma of biting the hand that feeds.