How Philanthropy Diverts Social Movements

Philanthropic foundations are getting more critic…

An episode of the The Science of Politics podcast, hosted by Niskanen Center, titled "How Philanthropy Diverts Social Movements" was published on March 13, 2019 and runs 56 minutes.

March 13, 2019 ·56m · The Science of Politics

Summary

Philanthropic foundations are getting more criticism as we learn how their efforts shape our politics. But that impact has a long history, including pivotal roles in the Civil Rights Movement and the California farmworker movement. It turns out the money often comes with quite a few strings attached. Megan Ming Francis finds that philanthropy shifted the NAACP from its early focus on lynching and mob violence to its education-focused litigation. Erica Kohl-Arenas finds that foundations repeatedly encouraged the farmworker movement to pursue non-profit services over radical politics. Both say foundations still shape what social movements can pursue and what gets left off the table.

Episode Description