Lenkowsky, LeslieWachtmann, Jenna LeeSmyth, Regina A.Witkowski, Gregory R.2016-01-072017-06-022015-05-01https://hdl.handle.net/1805/7927http://dx.doi.org/10.7912/C2/610Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)The collapse of communism and the fall of the Soviet Union offered an unprecedented opportunity for the international community to support transitions to democracy in a region that had long known only totalitarian rule. Among the key players engaged in supporting efforts were U.S. grantmaking institutions, including both non-state and quasi-state aid providers. This thesis explores the motivations and evolving strategies of three different types of grantmaking institutions in a single country, Russia, with a particular focus on democracy aid provision from 1988-2002. The three types of grantmaking organizations examined through case studies include: the Ford Foundation, a private foundation with a history of international grantmaking spanning several decades; the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, a private foundation known primarily for its domestic focus with a much shorter history of international grantmaking; and, finally, the National Endowment for Democracy, a U.S. government-created and heavily taxpayer-funded organization established as a private nonprofit organization to make grants specifically for democracy promotion. Motivating factors for initiating or expanding grantmaking in Russia in the late 1980s included a previous history of grantmaking in the region, a previously established institutional commitment to democracy promotion, international peace and security concerns, and interest from a top institutional leader. Over the course of the fourteen year period studied, five grantmaking features are identified as influencing the development of grantmaking strategies: professional grantmaking staff; organizational habit; global political, social, and economic environments; market and other funding source influences; and physical presence. Though subject to constraints, the non-state and quasi-state grantmaking institutions included in this study were able to avoid weaknesses identified with private philanthropy in other research and demonstrated a willingness to experiment and take risks, an ability to operate at the non-governmental level, and a commitment to long-term grantmaking, informed by expertise.en-USAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesDemocracy aidGrantmakingUSSRPost-communist RussiaCivil societyC.S. Mott FoundationCharles Stewart Mott FoundationFord FoundationNational Endowment for DemocracySoviet transitionDemocratization studiesPrivate foundationQuangoInternational grantmakingSoviet Union -- Politics and government -- 1953-1985Soviet Union -- Politics and government -- 1985-1991Russia (Federation) -- Politics and government -- 1991Communism -- Soviet Union -- HistorySoviet Union -- Economic conditionsSoviet Union -- Economic conditions -- 1985-1991Humanitarian assistance -- Russia (Federation)Non-governmental organizations -- Russia (Federation)Economic assistance -- Russia (Federation)Civil society -- Russia (Federation)Democracy -- Russia (Federation)Ford FoundationCharles Stewart Mott FoundationNational Endowment for Democracy (U.S.)Thesis10.7912/C2MK5S