Punctuated Generosity: How Mega-events and Natural Disasters Affect Corporate Philanthropy in U.S. Communities

Tilcsik & Marquis analyze Fortune 1000 firms' philanthropic spending between 1980 and 2006, revealing significant spikes in giving following mega-events like the Olympics and Super Bowl. Their study also uncovers nuanced responses to natural disasters: corporate giving increased for minor disasters but decreased for major ones, likely due to firms being directly affected. This research introduces a "punctuated equilibrium" perspective, demonstrating how exogenous shocks disrupt stable corporate-community giving patterns.