Understanding philanthropic leadership: a bibliometric analysis of research trends over the 1991–2021 period

Purpose Philanthropy has developed into a trillion-dollar industry with substantial transnational funds. Scholarly research on philanthropic leadership has experienced substantial growth since the 1990s, but as an academic field, it remains ill-defined. The purpose of this study is to examine the current state of the literature on philanthropic leadership to determine the extent to which the field needs to be further specialized. Design/methodology/approach Relying on the VOSviewer software version 1.6.15, the authors conducted a bibliometric analysis of 470 identified articles published between 1991 and 2021 to uncover the most influential articles, academic outlets and scholars in the field. Findings There is a noticeable lack of literature that accurately reflects the overall practice of philanthropic leadership. Most specialized research concentrates on the influence of corporate leaders in using philanthropic activities as a means of achieving business objectives. However, it is essential to recognize that leadership plays a critical role in effective philanthropy, which benefits various stakeholders and produces favorable spillover effects. The findings indicate that existing literature tends to focus on the influence of corporate leaders on philanthropic activities and their correlation with business outcomes. Originality/value This study contributes to the field by offering insights into the intellectual structure of the field and assists with the identification of new research directions within the philanthropic leadership domain. Further scholarly consideration is needed to understand the practice of philanthropic leadership.