Philanthropic Funding for Community and Economic Development

Exploring Potential for Influencing Policy and Governance

Bibliographic Data

ID6405220
AuthorsDale E Thomson (0000-0003-2938-3204, University of Michigan–Dearborn, Dearborn, MI, USA, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume57
Issue6
Pages1483-1523
Publication date2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueUrban Affairs Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1078-0874 • E-ISSN: 1552-8332
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1078087420926698
OpenAlexW3031473885
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited55

Philanthropic foundations are prominent participants in collaborations to revitalize some distressed cities. Their participation and vast resources raise questions about their potential to influence city policy, become part of local governing regimes, and alter regimes’ policy biases. Yet, no comprehensive, empirical studies exist to establish the potential scale of this phenomenon across a large number of cities. This study begins to fill that void by analyzing a unique database of foundation giving for community and economic development (CED) relative to other city funding sources in 30 legacy cities. I conclude that the potential for foundation influence on policy and governance is substantial for a subset of large legacy cities with especially high need and local, resource-rich foundations. Comparative case studies of these cities can provide critical knowledge regarding potential evolution of decision-making processes, governing regimes, and policy outputs in legacy cities

Business · Corporate governance · Economic growth · Economics · Empirical research · Foundation (evidence · Phenomenon · Political science · Community Development and Social Impact · Law · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research · Finance

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