Philanthropy, or the desire to promote human welfare through donations of money, time, labor, and influence, is a central means of assisting art that might not otherwise exist if left to the capitalist marketplace. The roots of philanthropy come from some measure of charity, generosity, and social conscience, just as its existence is rooted in ever increasing global wealth and power inequality. With the exercise of any source of economic, social, or cultural capital, an examination of power is necessary. In this course, we will understand what role philanthropy has played in supporting music in the United States and Western Europe through historical and present-day case studies, including the philanthropy of individual patrons like Isabella Stewart Gardner, non-profit organizations, and large institutions like the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations. Guest visitors to the class will deepen our awareness of how decisions are made on personal and practical levels. We will engage in historical, theoretical, and moral discussions concerning philanthropy and its role in civil society, in order to gain a better understanding of how money speaks in music, as well as learn how to think critically about the impact and efficacy of philanthropic endeavors.