Abstract
<jats:p>For the Well-being of Mankind: The Rockefeller Foundation &ndash; From Scientific Philanthropy to the Politics of Knowledge This book represents the first comprehensive presentation on the Polish publishing market of the history of the establishment, functioning, and impact of the Rockefeller Foundation over its first fifty years. As one of the earliest large-scale foundations, the Rockefeller Foundation made a breakthrough in the field of American philanthropy both domestically and internationally. Its financial support left a lasting mark in almost every field, making the lives of contemporary people healthier, safer, of higher quality, and more open to the world and others. The vision of the founder and the entire Rockefeller family, passionately implemented by the best representatives of their fields among the Rockefeller Foundation&rsquo;s staff, changed the lives of many people on every continent. Overcoming many obstacles and facing criticism and attacks, the Foundation facilitated numerous groundbreaking scientific discoveries in fields such as medicine, chemistry, physics, and many others. It also supported the development of humanities and social sciences, raising the level of medical education and healthcare in many countries. This book tells the story of the American tradition of philanthropy and the value system that shaped many American philanthropists, including the Rockefeller family. It presents the history of the organization&rsquo;s formation, the process of staff selection, the testing of various methods of resource allocation, and the search for the most effective organizational partners and promising scholars. It is also a story of the courage to make mistakes and the evolution of thinking, attitudes, and programs by the Foundation in the face of social problems, changing social relations, and internal and external challenges. The axis of the Rockefeller Foundation&rsquo;s transformation of the philanthropic philosophy was the shift from traditional scientific philanthropy, which focused on addressing the root causes of social problems through expert knowledge, to the politics of knowledge, facilitating access to knowledge for all through education. Finally, this monograph aims to familiarize the Polish reader with the world of private philanthropy in the United States of America, the process of self-organization of the non-governmental sector, and the global reach of many initiatives promoting open access to knowledge and international cooperation, aimed at promoting the common good.</jats:p>