New development: philanthropy in networked governance—treading with care

While philanthropy is widely seen as a potential way of filling the void left by reductions in public services and government spending, reflective debate on philanthropy, its roles and challenges, has been rare. Our paper critically outlines key facets of philanthropy, as expressed through philanthropic foundations and trusts, that require further exploration within networked governance debates: our limited understanding of philanthropy and of philanthropic foundations; the increasingly neoliberal discourse of and on philanthropy; and the extent of philanthropy's potential and achievements.