With billions worth of funding to city-based projects, urban dwellers and city leaders the world over, philanthropy is no small matter. It might shape the form, politics and direction of urban development worldwide, yet little discussion of its role is present in urban studies. In this commentary, we call for urban scholars and practitioners to become more explicitly conversant in its investment dynamics in cities and their impact on urban governance. We highlight a two-pronged research agenda focused on institutions and individuals. First, we argue that we need to understand the impact of philanthropic institutions not just generally on cities but specifically on urban governance. Second, we call for nuanced attention to the philanthropy of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and its relationship to urban policymaking and wealth redistribution in cities. Third, we highlight the value of a more ‘global urban’ outlook onto the landscape of philanthropic funding in cities, starting with greater attention to philanthropic practices beyond the Global North. We conclude by sketching possible empirical steps towards an action research agenda, whilst underlining the necessary reflexivity that urban scholars should have in their positioning vis-a-vis philanthropy and its engagement in urban academia.

凭借价值数十亿美元的资金用于世界各地的城市项目、城市居民和城市领导人，慈善事业非同小可。它可能会影响全球城市发展的形式、政治和方向，但在城市研究中很少讨论其作用。在这篇评论中，我们呼吁城市学者和从业者更加清楚地了解城市投资动态及其对城市治理的影响。我们强调了一个以机构和个人为重点的双管齐下的研究议程。首先，我们认为我们需要了解慈善机构不仅对城市的总体影响，而且特别是对城市治理的影响。第二，我们呼吁细致入微地关注高净值个人 (HNWI) 的慈善事业及其与城市政策制定和城市财富再分配的关系。第三，我们从更加关注全球北方以外的慈善实践开始，强调“全球城市”视角对城市慈善资助景观的价值。最后，我们概述了行动研究议程可能的实证步骤，同时强调了城市学者在定位慈善事业及其在城市学术界的参与时应具有的必要反思性。