Foundation activism in urban revitalization: Effects on institutions and political agency

ABSTRACT

Philanthropic foundations have assumed more significant roles in city governance through traditional grantmaking to NPOs, funding governmental services, and becoming more active in crafting and implementing community interventions. This raises important questions related to governance, political agency, and democracy. Through case studies of targeted interventions in two Pittsburgh neighborhoods, this study examines the extent to which foundation activism altered institutional environments, fostered political agency, and altered city policies towards urban revitalization. The cases show that by altering institutional environments, foundation activism provided political agency for marginalized populations. However, agency related mainly to foundation resources. While city policymaking was affected in important ways, the communities were unable to dramatically influence the government’s allocation of UR resources. Outcomes are contingent upon supportive contextual factors, disposition and actions of foundation personnel, and beset by challenges endemic to community development. The findings call for both optimism and caution for those who hope for greater community voice via philanthropic activism.

Acknowledgments

The author expresses gratitude to Brady Malone who helped with early phases of this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. UR encompasses a range of strategies undertaken to improve cities’ conditions. Strategies may focus on redeveloping, revitalizing, stabilizing, or even reconfiguring neighborhoods to serve new purposes. Some alteration of neighborhoods’ physical attributes (e.g., housing, infrastructure, open space, etc.) are typical components, but interventions targeting economic and social variables may be included.

2. I identified initial interviewees from lists of foundation leaders and program officers, elected officials, leaders of agencies involved in UR, and NPOs that were active in the target communities as evident through media accounts and foundation reports. Interviewees identified additional names. I requested interviews from all relevant interviewee candidates for whom I obtained contact information. I made at least one follow-up contact—often more—with interview candidates who did not respond to initial invitations. I interviewed all who responded affirmatively. I terminated efforts to identify interviewees or contact non-responders once I had interviewed a diverse set of respondents and responses coalesced around common themes.

3. The University of Michigan-Dearborn Institutional Review Board classified the research project as exempt from human subject review. I informed interviewees of the nature of the study, risks/rewards, the voluntary nature of their participation, their ability to withdraw and/or not answer questions, and the anonymity of interviews prior to their verbal consent to participate. Audio recordings (approved, via written consent) were also produced for four interviews. I used these to clarify unclear elements in the hand-written notes.

4. Search terms foundation, Northside, Hazelwood, philanthropy, and Almono for 1/1/2005 thru 12/31/18 produced approximately 1,000 results that I reviewed manually. I conducted subsequent, more specific, searches to identify coverage of specific initiatives, events, people, or organizations identified as important through other sources.

5. Originally known as the LTV or Almono site, the name was changed to Hazelwood Green to symbolize connections among the site, Hazelwood, and the foundations’ commitment to environmentally sustainable development.

6. Although a decade had passed since purchasing the LTV site, little actual development had taken place, partially due to dilemmas over an existing railway, the possible routing of a new freeway through the site, the extensive remediation required, and the Great Recession.

7. Statistics are for Heinz’s target area, include the Glen Hazel neighborhood, which had few developed properties or residents, most of whom lived in a public housing community.

8. This was Bucco’s sole responsibility during her first year. Meanwhile, Thieman worked with existing grantees to inform them of Buhl’s new approach and arrange grants to help long-time grantees transition from Buhl’s support. Bucco succeeded Thieman as Buhl’s president in 2016, as was anticipated at the time of her hiring.

9. In 2017, health and safety were added.

10. The original census occurred in 2013. Follow-up rounds occurred in 2015 and 2017.

11. HI’s expanded activities led its long-time executive director to retire when he, his board, and Heinz recognized that HI’s agenda required a director more willing to take risks and embrace HI’s expansive vision.

12. This time period applies to all analyses of Buhl’s grants in One Northside.

13. It is worth noting that modest talk among community members of crafting a community benefits agreement was scuttled by emphasizing the investments Almono partners were making in Hazelwood and the collaborative approach guiding Heinz’s work.

14. HI’s and CoL’s important roles in building pre-existing capacity were complemented by an external NPO, the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, which undertook concentrated organizing efforts. Individual activists within Hazelwood also proved important.

15. The role of data and education in facilitating agency is an additional challenge evident in these cases, but one for which the data do not enable elaboration.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Michigan-Dearborn [Faculty Research Support and Maintenance Grant].

Notes on contributors

Dale E. Thomson

Dale E. Thomson teaches courses in public policy and administration, as well as urban revitalization, urban politics, and Michigan and U.S. government. He also serves as the Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, which houses the University’s programs in Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Social Studies, Urban and Regional Studies, and Community Change Studies. Thomson’s current research foci include the role of foundations and community-based organizations in city policymaking, strategic geographic targeting of community development resources, and capacity of community development corporations.