Section 2, Chapter 7, Altruism, Volunteering, and Philanthropy Summary and Analysis

Some people see volunteering and philanthropy as a measure of social capital. In order for it to be social capital, however, it needs to have the component of "doing with." Simply doing good, like dropping a check in the mail, isn't the same thing. Social networks are often the ways that people recruit other people for volunteer and good deeds. People who belong to formal and informal social networks are more likely to engage in civic participation as well.

The value of caring for others is strong in the United States. In earlier times, volunteering and philanthropy happened mostly through religious communities. By the end of the nineteenth century, however, helping others came to be seen as a civic duty. In the twentieth century, volunteering became more organized. Churches remained important...