Donor-driven democracy? Governance implications of foundation-dependent revitalization

Abstract

Philanthropic foundations and nonprofit financial intermediaries have become critical funders of community revitalization in many U.S. cities, often moving beyond their traditional role of passive, reactionary funders to initiators and lead coordinators of broad-based, collaborative revitalization initiatives. This role can give foundation leaders critical influence on resource allocations in cities, even leading to enduring influence as part of the governing regime. Because of their missions and collaborations with communities, foundations may also be able to incorporate interests into the regime that are traditionally excluded. Through a case study of foundation involvement in the Detroit revitalization since the mid-2000s, including an embedded case of the Detroit Works/Detroit Future City project, this article examines the extent to which increased active leadership of foundations in urban revitalization expands their influence on local policy decisions and enables them to incorporate interests not typically incorporated into decision making of urban regimes.

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