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Philanthropies
Northeastern University
A physical installation combines painted panels and digital interfaces to make the priorities of the philanthropic system accessible, encouraging critical reflection on the distribution of resources in cultural funding.
“Philanthropies” is a visual and analytical investigation into the philanthropic ecosystem in the United States between 2010 and 2019. By analyzing 3,660,949 tax returns from nonprofit foundations, the project mapped 8,186,055 grants awarded to nonprofit institutions, totaling approximately 800 billion dollars.
The work unfolds across twelve panels, each corresponding to one of the donation categories defined by the U.S. tax code. Every wooden panel is hand-painted and paired with an interactive online interface that allows users to explore subcategories and associated funding amounts. This blend of art and technology provides a tangible representation of philanthropic priorities and encourages critical reflection on the distribution of resources within the cultural landscape.
Philanthropies is part of a broader series of research center projects that use network science to analyze the underlying structures of cultural institutions, contributing to the ongoing debate on power dynamics and funding systems that shape the art world.
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