Why philanthropic foundations collaborate with city governments: an exploration of three English cities

This study analyses why philanthropic foundations are motivated to engage with city governments. Case study analysis of three contrasting English cities, Bristol, Manchester, and Newcastle, shows that philanthropic foundations can be a capacity-building partner of city government, providing funding and non-financial resources. Foundations are motivated to improve public services, advocate on policy issues, and fill funding gaps left by austerity. Furthermore, this study has found that foundations do not work with city governments when their priorities are unclear, they are hard to engage, or when there is a slow pace of change. City governments are motivated to engage with foundations to access resources, help amplify the voice of city governments, and because foundations are perceived as a less bureaucratic funder. Rather than austerity prompting cities to seek foundation resourcing, this study has found that a lack of internal capacity can prevent the city government from seeking foundation involvement.