This collection sheds light on the history of charity and philanthropy in the United States since the Civil War. It explores the ways in which charities, local associations, religious organisations and philanthropic foundations have engaged and interacted with American politics, society and relations with the world. Beginning in the 19th-century, the first chapters address the domestic, religious and transatlantic dimensions of philanthropy during a period of conflict and upheaval. The second section showcase four domestic case studies, exploring debates about the purpose of 'good works', including charity in the Ku Klux Klan and philanthropic African-American business women. The last chapters explore how philanthropy sought to shape US foreign policy during the interwar period, and assess the complex relationship between art, culture and government policy during the Cold War. In highlighting the significant role that charitable works have played in American politics and society, and the ways in which the concept of philanthropy has evolved since the mid-19th century, this collection demonstrates their value as a lens through which to view American history. In this expertly compiled collection, Ben Offiler and Rachel Williams have brought together a range of leading scholars to provide a nuanced and thoughtful assessment of American philanthropy in its domestic and international contexts. With chapters focusing on the role of religious groups, cultural networks, and the state in promoting philanthropy, and two chapters examining groups who opposed its key concepts, the collection's contributors demonstrate the latest scholarship in this burgeoning field and raise important questions for anybody interested in the larger history of the United States' relationship with the concept of giving.