Philanthropic foundations are often described as ‘intermediaries’ yet the term is neither defined nor deconstructed. The absence of efforts in the philanthropic literature to unpack the term ‘intermediary’ results in a lack of theoretical substance in analysing foundations’ roles, and potential for misunderstanding their value and impact.
New research by ACPNS Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Alexandra Williamson and Dr Diana Leat at the Centre for the Study of Philanthropy and Public Good, University of St Andrews, identifies and briefly discusses 14 dimensions of the intermediary roles played by foundations, and groups them into four major themes:
- bringing parties together,
- capacity development and relationship building,
- temporal bridging, and
- sector-level or institutional intermediation.
Defining and distinguishing 14 intermediary roles of foundations within four central themes helps to answer questions about why foundations are needed when two parties could deal directly with each other. Foundations are not necessarily a passive link in a giving chain or process, but create changes and add value. Their intermediary roles are dynamic and interactive, influencing the relationship between donor and ultimate beneficiary. Foundations also have valuable skills, roles, and functions which this paper makes visible for a more nuanced understanding and appreciation of foundations as intermediaries.
The journal article is published in the Australian Journal of Public Administration and is also available on request via QUT eprints.
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