Where does Charity Begin? Teresa Duodenal states, “through donation and work for voluntary organizations, the charitable rich exert enormous influence in society. As philanthropists, they acquire status within and outside their class.” 1.As a researcher, is philanthropy essential to the perpetuation of the elite in the United States? 2.Concomitantly, are nonprofit activities the nexus of the modern power elite? Explain your scholarly position with empirical evidence to support.