For The World’s Sake: U.S. Foundations and International Grantmaking, 1990-2002

Abstract

The last decade of the twentieth century and the first few years of this new century have been marked by significant global changes. The move to more open societies marked symbolically by the fall of the Berlin Wall and animated by widespread democratization movements presented foundations with new grant-making prospects. These openings, coupled with governance models that shifted greater responsibility for development to the private sector, spurred foundations to support a variety of institution-building efforts, including supporting civil society in countries around the world. Rapid technological advances made international giving easier; at the same time, this more open and connected world drew foundation attention to new global problems, including environmental degradation and health pandemics.