Giving Journeys: The Role of Private Foundations

Abstract

The giving journeys of individuals, relating to their life stories and life places, have been positioned in the literature as romanticized versions of self. This research adopts a theory of philanthropic identity narratives using a journey metaphor, and explores the role and journeys associated with establishing a giving structure in the form of a private foundation. Findings from interviews with managers and trustees of private philanthropic foundations undertaken in two phases, 7 years apart, show that establishing a foundation shifts the emphasis of a giving journey from being individual‐focused to philanthropy‐focused, facilitating a legacy of giving rather than self. This paper contributes to theoretical and practical understandings of philanthropic journeys by adding a foundation lens, highlighting the shift in emphasis between identity and action, where establishing a giving structure is less about an individual founder's identity and more about focused philanthropic activity, irrespective of what that particular focus may be.