The model of the charitable foundation is increasingly under criticism. ‘Wealth draws envy and philanthropy draws suspicion’ is one of Hilary Pearson’s many punchy phrases.

Her book about the world of Canadian foundations is a timely and thoughtful contribution to the debate. She is well placed to write the book having served 18 years as chief executive of Canada’s association for foundations. It is therefore neither an internal history of a particular foundation nor the perspective of an outsider.

The book hinges on some twenty case studies of Canadian foundations. It avoids, however, being purely descriptive. First, Pearson writes beautifully: and the case studies, grouped by theme, are engaging (not least to those outside Canada for whom they are likely to be unfamiliar). Secondly, they serve a wider purpose: exemplars illustrating her case that civil society needs thoughtful, well-led foundations.

The book begins with an analysis and overview of the Canadian foundation sector. This is not simply the work of a cheerleader. She tackles candidly the failings of the sector, alongside questions of legitimacy and the challenges of the ‘social licence to operate.’ In doing so she draws lucidly on perspectives as diverse as Rob Reich and Beth Breeze. She also traces trends within Canada that resonate across much of global institutional philanthropy, for example increasing professionalisation or the catalysing effect of the pandemic on a sometimes-stagnant sector. Like a symphony with different movements, she keeps coming back to these opening themes alongside what she perceives as the particular advantages of the foundation model of high-risk tolerance, long-term time horizon, and autonomy of choice.

At the heart of her argument – and her exemplars – is an evolution that she observes in a number of Canadian foundations away from paternalism toward ‘sustainable, structural change’ (the words are Darren Walker’s), i.e. working closely with communities to think about systemic change. In a Canadian context, she identifies this as a shift from ‘colonial’ to ‘Indigenous’ patterns of thinking. Despite this Canadian lens, much of what she articulates will be familiar elsewhere in the world. Her case studies include chapters on shifting power, strengthening communities, advancing public policy, collaboration, and climate change work. Perhaps the most interesting chapter (again with wide resonance but a peculiarly Canadian flavour) is the last one, coined ‘reconciliation through relationship’, in this case relationships with Indigenous communities. The chapter examines three very different types of funders ending intriguingly with the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund, a fund established in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and guided by Indigenous communities.

Where does the book leave the case for foundations? Even if Pearson’s teleological and perhaps overly simplified argument of ‘charity to [social] change’ is accepted, it still leaves wider questions. Should all foundations have a social change lens? Most readers will accept Pearson’s broadly liberal framework, but what about the large proportion of foundations – Canadian or otherwise – who don’t march to this particular beat? Where does their legitimacy lie? And is there a wider argument for seemingly unambitious funding that simply bolsters civil society?

Notwithstanding these unresolved questions, this is an excellent contribution to the debate. It shines a light on the Canadian foundation sector and emphatically defends the ability of foundations to do remarkable things. Pearson is surely right that the thoughtful foundation plays a vital role in civil society, and that ‘in a stressed and unequal society, the wealth of endowed foundations is too easy a target.’

Paul Ramsbottom is the chief executive of The Wolfson Foundation

About the book
Author: Hilary Pearson
Published by: McGill–Queen’s University Press
To order: https://www.waterstones.com/book/from-charity-to-change/hilary-m-pearson/9780228014508