Public Philanthropic Partnerships: The Changing Nature of Government/Foundation Relationships in the US. Issue 8 (11th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Toepler, Stefan
• Is Part Of: International journal of public administration. Volume 41:Issue 8(2018)
• Page Start: 657
• Page End: 669
• Publication Date: 2018-06-11
• Subjects: Foundation/government relationships -- foundation liaison offices -- foundation roles and functions -- Investing in Innovation Fund -- philanthropy -- public-philanthropic partnerships -- social innovation -- Social Innovation Fund; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2017.1295462
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-0692

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Relationships between foundations and the government in the United States have long been difficult with government attitudes ranging from hostile to at best indifferent in the past. American foundations have long claimed innovation as a distinctive function to perform in society in order to preserve their legitimacy. One hundred years after the rise of the large-scale American philanthropic foundation, however, the relationships between foundations and government have come into flux. Between demands from fiscally-strapped local governments and a new openness of state and federal governments to develop collaborative relationships, a variety of public-philanthropic partnerships have emerged that question the traditional roles and distribution of labor between philanthropy and the state. This article traces the historical development of the government/foundation relationship and discusses its changing nature using recession-induced ad hoc partnerships, the emergence of foundation liaison offices, and the Obama Administration's Social Innovation Fund and Investing in Innovation program as examples.