Foundations as ‘astronomical objects’
The direct and indirect influence that larger foundations might have on their wider context is picked up in today’s image of philanthropy:
“[F]oundations are like astronomical objects — the larger the foundation, the stronger its gravitational pull on other objects surrounding it. This is often good when it comes to aligning funding around certain efforts to increase their momentum. But sometimes the gravitational pull is so strong that it is impossible for smaller moons and asteroids to escape and carve a different path, even if the original path does not seem to be leading anywhere.
Le, V (2016) What’s Unique about Northwest Funders?, https://philanthropynw.org/news/philanthropy-balls-whats-unique-about-northwest-funders
Drawing on some of the findings from our ‘Images of Philanthropy’ Initiative, each entry in this accompanying blog series introduces one image that has been put forward in an academic or non-academic context to depict or characterise an aspect of philanthropy in its different forms and expressions.
For further information about the ‘Images of Philanthropy’ Initiative, please contact Dr Tobias Jung.