Encyclopedias allow readers to engage in both selective learning and unexpected discovery, and now this type of resource has been made available to those with an interest in U.S. philanthropy. Editor Dwight Burlingame, an academic and expert on philanthropy, has assembled a group of scholars, educators, and nonprofit practitioners to capture the roots of this nation's philanthropic traditions and their development into contemporary forms. In the three-volume Philanthropy in America, he has succeeded in creating not only the first encyclopedia on the sector, but more importantly a useful and accessible resource.

The principal jewels of Philanthropy in America are the more than 175 entries on every aspect of the philanthropic sector — from leading donors, to key institutions, to critical concepts. Ranging from a few columns to a number of pages, many of the entries will sound familiar: Dorothea Dix, "Fundraising," and the YMCA are all represented. Yet each entry presents a concise portrait filled with unexpected detail, along with source references and related resources for learning more about a topic. The encyclopedia also reaches far beyond what might commonly appear in such a work, capturing topics from "Philanthropy in Utopian Thought," to "Public Relations and Philanthropy for Nonprofits," to "Fundraising as a Profession."

Among Philanthropy in America's other useful resources are "A Timeline of Key Events" in U.S. philanthropy, stretching from the 1600s through 2000; a "Glossary of Terms in Philanthropy," providing a handy reference for those less familiar with the sector; and excerpts from critical "Documents in Philanthropy," ranging from Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics," to Booker T. Washington's "Raising Money," to the Koran.

For those writing histories on the field or simply preparing a speech on the importance of giving, Philanthropy in America provides a convenient starting place for research. As with any encyclopedia, however, it will be important to seek out broader and more in-depth information. Entries vary in length and are not always based on their relative importance to the sector, and contributors sometimes bring a distinct view to their entries that may not reflect the variety of resources and perspectives available on a topic.

Those minor cautions aside, Philanthropy in America represents an important new resource for students of philanthropy and seasoned practitioners alike, and works equally well as a fascinating introduction to the sector and as a convenient reference tool. Whether readers have only a couple of minutes to find a fact or an afternoon to meander casually through the richly detailed entries, their time will be well spent.

For citations to additional materials on this topic refer to the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject headings "Philanthropy-analysis" or "Philanthropy-history."