Foundations provide key funds for nongovernmental organizations. We know little about what they do for transnational activism or the mechanisms via which they seek/achieve influence. We carve a middle ground between those who see donors as supporting actors in transnational advocacy networks (TANs) and those who think they distort activism through impersonal market forces. Our negotiation-oriented approach looks at the micro-dynamics of donor–grantee relations. We argue that influence is a function of donors’ organizational characteristics. Only some, especially foundations, have the vision/means to shape grantees. However, internal complexity can cause coordination problems, complicating influence. Additionally, if many donors exist, recipients’ leverage increases. It does so too if their expertise is in short supply. Using archival evidence, we reconstruct how Ford tried to shape the Inter-American Human Rights Institute, a pillar of the region's human rights regime, and the factors conditioning success. For Ford, the Institute could play a role in a fledging TAN, but only if it downplayed its emphasis on research and directly engaged activists. Coupled with analyses of USAID’s relationship with the Institute and Ford's relationship with Americas Watch, we shed light on the activities of an important class of donor and illuminate foundations’ role in the development of TANs.

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慈善基金会和跨国活动家网络：福特和美洲人权研究所

基金会为非政府组织提供重要资金。我们对他们为跨国激进主义所做的事情或他们寻求/获得影响力的机制知之甚少。我们在那些将捐助者视为跨国倡导网络 (TAN) 中的支持者和那些认为他们通过非个人市场力量扭曲行动主义的人之间划定了一个中间地带。我们以谈判为导向的方法着眼于捐赠者与受赠者关系的微观动态。我们认为影响是捐助者组织特征的函数。只有一些，尤其是基金会，具有塑造受助者的愿景/手段。然而，内部的复杂性会导致协调问题，使影响复杂化。此外，如果有很多捐赠者，接受者的影响力就会增加。如果他们的专业知识供不应求，它也会这样做。使用档案证据，我们重构了福特如何试图塑造美洲人权研究所这一地区人权制度的支柱，以及影响成功的因素。对福特而言，该研究所可以在刚刚起步的 TAN 中发挥作用，但前提是它淡化对研究的重视并直接让积极分子参与进来。结合对美国国际开发署与研究所的关系以及福特与美洲观察的关系的分析，我们阐明了重要捐助者类别的活动，并阐明了基金会在 TAN 发展中的作用。但前提是它淡化了对研究的重视并直接与活动家接触。结合对美国国际开发署与研究所的关系以及福特与美洲观察的关系的分析，我们阐明了重要捐助者类别的活动，并阐明了基金会在 TAN 发展中的作用。但前提是它淡化了对研究的重视并直接与活动家接触。结合对美国国际开发署与研究所的关系以及福特与美洲观察的关系的分析，我们阐明了重要捐助者类别的活动，并阐明了基金会在 TAN 发展中的作用。