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In an era of democratic dysfunction, people are looking outside the political system to solve problems. Wealthy individuals and philanthropic foundations are stepping into the breach. Here's a thread on #philanthropy - the *other* kind of money influencing public life. (1/9)
When looking to solve problems, philanthropic donors give away tens of billions of dollars per year. But donors do more than contribute money to charity. They also help decide whose interests matter, and they advance these interests. (2/9)
The new issue of Interest Groups & Advocacy is dedicated to whether foundations (or some of them anyway) constitute a form of interest group. In our intro essay, @JeffreyMBerry and I ask, In what ways does the analogy work, and what are its limits? (3/9) link.springer.com/epdf/10.1057/s…
Community foundations have more latitude than private foundations to advocate for causes and groups of people. David Suarez, @kellyhusted & Andreu Casas explore the features of community funds & their environment might lead them to value advocacy. (4/9) link.springer.com/epdf/10.1057/s…
One rationale for civil society is that it can create democratic citizens & push back against excessive state power. But civil society relies on funding. @JeffreyMBerry & I explore whether elite philanthropists are ready to be donors for democracy. (5/9) link.springer.com/epdf/10.1057/s…
Besides giving $, #philanthropy influences policy by designing and spreading new approaches to problems. @tompkinsstange & @SReckhow show how funders set the agenda for teacher evaluation reform & how these ideas became core to congressional debates. (6/9) link.springer.com/epdf/10.1057/s…
But education funders differ, notes @LeslieKFinger. Younger foundations seem to be giving in contexts that are more politically amenable to school reform. Older foundations? Not as much. (7/9)
link.springer.com/epdf/10.1057/s…
link.springer.com/epdf/10.1057/s…
How much political influence do foundations have? @mosleyjen & Brenda Bushouse find foundations wield power by serving as hubs of policy communities, coordinating & incentivizing action to set agendas, diffuse policies & guide implementation. (8/9) link.springer.com/epdf/10.1057/s…
These 6 new articles complement important books by @DavidCallahanIP @robreich @AnandWrites & @DukeSanford's Joel Fleishman, who offer thoughtful critiques of elite #philanthropy in an era of democratic distress, while recognizing philanthropy's promise as a force for good. (9/9)
