JOHN STUDZINSKI is an American-British investment banker and philanthropist. This book sets out his philosophy of philanthropy as an encouragement for others to follow his example. He is perhaps best known for donating more than £8 million to the Tate, and more than £25 million to artists and creatives through his Genesis Foundation, which has also commissioned more than 30 new sacred choral works, including James MacMillan’s Stabat Mater. His argument in the book, though, is that anyone can be generous: you don’t have to be rich.
Studzinski has a reputation for being a man of deep faith; so, while it is surprising to find so much religion in a Bloomsbury Business title, it is not surprising that he grounds his argument in the parable of the Talents. This allows him to make the case for talent both as cash and as latent ability: you can and should be entrepreneurial about both, in service of the common good. And he prefers the term “philanthropy” to “charity”, because it feels less focused on sticking-plaster solutions and more on establishing long-term sustainable benefits.
So, what does he mean about entrepreneurial philanthropy? He is keen to encourage a culture of engagement and responsibility, so that you are giving your time and attention to any cause that may also merit your financial support. For example, he suggests that, if you like a charity, you volunteer for them before committing funds, to check that they are really worth supporting. And entrepreneurs are famously good at “failing fast”; so you should make use of pilots and projects in your philanthropy, both to confine risk and to allow you to learn and course-correct quickly from mistakes.
It is hard not to be beguiled by a book from such a generous giver: let us hope that it obtains a wide readership and encourages more to give of their talents.
Dr Eve Poole is Executive Chair of the Woodard Corporation and writes on theology, economics, and leadership.
A Talent for Giving: Creating a more generous society that benefits everyone
John Studzinski
Bloomsbury Business £16.99
(978-1-3994-1879-9)
Church Times Bookshop £15.29