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Inside The Foundation Review, Volume 18, Issue 1

Inside The Foundation Review, Volume 18, Issue 1

This issue of The Foundation Review draws attention to topics that are often marginalized in mainstream philanthropic research, relegated more often to operational conversations rather than areas of inquiry. They invite us to engage more seriously with some of the everyday decisions and infrastructure choices that shape philanthropic practice and its impact.

The issue’s first four articles examine sector dimensions that are often operationalized but rarely theorized. They take these topics beyond their traditional how-to framing and explore their implications for governance, power, and accountability. The next four articles describe evaluation results about topics philanthropy values and experiments with, but rarely analyzes with precision. The final article bridges scholarship and practice by interrogating a concept philanthropy frequently celebrates but can struggle to enact.

Taken together, the articles push philanthropy to reckon with aspects of itself that are often overlooked: archives rather than awards, motivations rather than tools, readiness rather than need, practices rather than slogans. By elevating topics rarely systematically researched, the issue invites more rigorous inquiry into some of the more operational choices that shape philanthropic impact.

Headshot: Julia Coffman

Signature of Julia Coffman in light black ink

Julia Coffman
Editor-in-Chief
The Foundation Review

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Inside Vol. 18 Issue 1:

Philanthropic Archives and Legacy
Katherine Badertscher and Huitan Xu

In this article, the authors examine the landscape of archival work within philanthropy. Theorizing legacy as a form of capital that is embodied in records, stories, and knowledge, they offer a continuum of five archiving strategies. Given the diversity of foundations, they argue for context-specific approaches rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

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Why Foundations Begin Making Program-Related Investments: Evidence from Recent Adopters
Maoz (Michael) Brown

Why do foundations begin making program-related investments (PRIs)? Brown asked 36 U.S. foundations that recently began using them. The article highlights drivers of PRI adoption and recommends foundation professionals and consultants clarify their motivations for PRI-making and ensure their rationales align with other strategic priorities.

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Considering Barriers to Funding Fiscal Sponsorship: Insights from Sponsor and Project Leaders
Elliot M. Zettas, Todd L. Ely, and Fredrik O. Andersson

Based on interviews with 68 leaders of sponsors and sponsored projects, this study explores barriers to fiscal sponsorship. Findings reveal that funders’ understanding about, and policies related to, fiscal sponsorship can negatively affect funding of sponsored initiatives. The article concludes with actionable recommendations for funders and sponsors.

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Defining Community Philanthropy: Principles and Dimensions of a Transformative Practice
Michael D. Layton

Community philanthropy is often promoted as an alternative to institutional, top-down philanthropy, yet the term remains contested. This article defines community philanthropy as a practice rooted in context and power rather than a single institutional form. It identifies five characteristics that distinguish community philanthropy and translates them into seven dimensions that can be used to assess community philanthropy in practice.

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Beyond Need: Exploring Readiness as a Predictor of Nonprofit Capacity-Building Success
Bridget Y. Samuel

This exploratory study investigates whether organizational readiness predicts capacity-building success more reliably than the level of perceived need. Findings reveal a significant correlation between readiness scores and early capacity-building outcomes, challenging common field assumptions about capacity-building selection and design.

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Beyond the Check: Lessons in Trust, Support, and Structure for Flexible Well-Being Grants
Martena Reed, Jennifer Marsack, Chelsey Hurt, Gladys Hairston, Tejaswini Vemuganti, Karla Mendez, Valerie Stewart, and Cindy Alvarado

Flexible funding alone does not guarantee grantee trust or imagination. This article draws on an evaluation of a foundation program that gave small, flexible well-being grants to over 100 nonprofits. Findings explore how organizations defined well-being and used the funds, and what factors shaped their choices. The authors argue that funders should pair flexible dollars with specific practices that support its intent.

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The Future of Purpose-Driven Work: Evaluating a Case Study of the Hybrid: Flexible Purpose Model at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Jeff Williams, Melyssa Tsai O’Brien, and Trish Abalo

Instead of being completely in-office or fully remote, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s hybrid work model aims to balance organizational needs with employee flexibility. A 15-month evaluation assessed the model across six areas. Findings revealed it preserved or improved grantmaking outcomes, enhanced staff well-being and autonomy, and expanded the diversity of the talent pool.

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Using AI to Redirect Donor Support to Smaller Organizations
Madeleine Alegria and Brandolon Barnett

In this study, 291 U.S. donors were asked to select a new nonprofit for a $50 donation. When choosing, they were randomly assigned to use either an online platform that supports donors or general internet tools. Platform users were significantly more likely to give locally, select nonprofits with smaller net assets, and report higher trust in the sector. Findings suggest donor tools shaped by behavioral science and ethical AI design can support more equitable giving.

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Moving Beyond Words to Action: A Practitioner’s Playbook for Achieving Collaboration Success
Tessa LeSage, Jonathan Romine, and Jane Wei-Skillern

In addition to being grantmakers, the authors contend that foundations should be stewards of cross-sector collaboration. Drawing on more than two decades of experience and research, they offer a framework for moving from collaborative rhetoric to action, using case examples to describe four essential and interconnected actions.

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