ABSTRACT

Philanthropic foundations have assumed more significant roles in city governance through traditional grantmaking to NPOs, funding governmental services, and becoming more active in crafting and implementing community interventions. This raises important questions related to governance, political agency, and democracy. Through case studies of targeted interventions in two Pittsburgh neighborhoods, this study examines the extent to which foundation activism altered institutional environments, fostered political agency, and altered city policies towards urban revitalization. The cases show that by altering institutional environments, foundation activism provided political agency for marginalized populations. However, agency related mainly to foundation resources. While city policymaking was affected in important ways, the communities were unable to dramatically influence the government’s allocation of UR resources. Outcomes are contingent upon supportive contextual factors, disposition and actions of foundation personnel, and beset by challenges endemic to community development. The findings call for both optimism and caution for those who hope for greater community voice via philanthropic activism.

摘要

慈善基金会通过向非营利组织提供传统赠款、资助政府服务以及更加积极地制定和实施社区干预措施，在城市治理中发挥了更重要的作用。这提出了与治理、政治机构和民主相关的重要问题。通过对匹兹堡两个社区的针对性干预的案例研究，本研究考察了基金会激进主义在多大程度上改变了制度环境、培育了政治机构以及改变了城市振兴政策。这些案例表明，通过改变制度环境，基金会激进主义为边缘化人群提供了政治机构。然而，代理主要与基金会资源有关。虽然城市决策受到重要影响，社区无法显着影响政府对 UR 资源的分配。结果取决于支持性背景因素、基金会人员的性格和行动，并受到社区发展特有的挑战的困扰。研究结果呼吁那些希望通过慈善行动获得更大社区发言权的人保持乐观和谨慎。