In Search of Systemic Impact

The Cooperative Assistance Fund and Program-Related Investments

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6443835
AutoresPeter Weber (0000-0003-1949-826X, Auburn University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2024
Volumen16
Número4
Páginas627-657
Fecha de publicación2024-09-09
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaNonprofit Policy Forum (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2154-3348 • E-ISSN: 2194-6035
EditorialDe Gruyter (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/npf-2023-0047
OpenAlexW4402365840
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas59

Scholars investigate philanthropy’s ability to effect change but pay less attention to strategies changing practices within the philanthropic sector. The Cooperative Assistance Fund (CAF) pioneered program-related investments (PRIs) as a philanthropic strategy that merged commercial and philanthropic logics, thus moving beyond traditional grantmaking practices. Adopting an institutional work perspective, the study describes the types of institutional work that promote a new philanthropic model. Historical evidence shows that CAF’s leadership reframed philanthropic approaches (framing work) and developed strategies influencing policy (political work), promoting PRIs (cultural work), and supporting interested foundations (technical work), but failed to develop a clear identity around these strategies (internal practice work). Taking advantage of historical methods, the study historically embeds the diverse types of institutional work that were employed, showing how these practices were often more reactive than proactive. The study contributes to our understanding of PRIs in linking their limited use to tensions between different institutional logics, while paradoxically contributing to the establishment of market-based approaches

Business · Community Development and Social Impact · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Public-Private Partnership Projects · Finance