ABSTRACT
Using in-depth interviews with supporters of African American museums, as well as archival records and firsthand observations, this chapter explores how patrons understand the value of black museums in relationship to their work lives. More specifically, patrons who work in the for-profit sector are compared to those who work in the nonprofit and public sectors. Patrons who work in the former tend to place more emphasis on giving as a practice that professionally supports “doing well” and “doing good.” On one hand, members of this group often place significant weight on the ethical components of giving. Giving is an articulation of corporate social responsibility in which business resources, such as money, and skills and knowledge in areas like marketing and management are leveraged on behalf of the nonprofit sector. At the same time, these patrons also appreciate philanthropy at black museums as a practice that can strengthen the position of business. For example, relationships with coworkers and clients are nurtured. In contrast, non–private-sector supporters are less likely to emphasize direct and salient links between their work lives and their engagement with black museums.
