Abstract
Foundations appear in a wide variety of types, legal forms, and sizes, and pursue a broad range of objectives. This makes it hard to get a firm grasp of the institutional form as a whole. Nevertheless, there are some basic commonalities. Foundations can generally be defined as asset-holding entities, usually endowed by a single donor, that are dedicated to charitable or philanthropic causes and have organizational structures to fulfill their objectives. The ways in which goals are pursued allow for a general distinction between operating and grantmaking foundations, the former of which are more actively involved in carrying out the intended activities than the latter. Accordingly, foundations are either restricted to making grants to other agencies, or deliver services directly. The common understanding of foundations is mostly determined by this distinction.
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Toepler, S. (1999). Operating in a Grantmaking World. In: Anheier, H.K., Toepler, S. (eds) Private Funds, Public Purpose. Nonprofit and Civil Society Studies. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4893-5_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4893-5_8
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