The Changing Nature of Foundation Work: Advancing the Field by Understanding the Foundation Professional Experience
本文通过研究英国家族基金会CEO从入职到离职的经历，揭示了基金会工作中业余与专业影响之间的内在张力，并强调了竞争性专业知识、领域形式化不一致和专业化背景三个被忽视的要素，对理解基金会工作及其演变至关重要。
The nature of foundation work is underexplored with little attention to the internal dynamics of foundations. Focus has been on the organizational level describing foundations’ societal roles, but understanding the individual experiences of those working within foundations would remove much of the mystery of these institutions. This article focuses on the experiences of the individual foundation professional, by exploring the entry-to-exit of UK family foundation CEOs. This study demonstrates inherent tensions between amateur and emerging professional influences in foundation roles. In asking about the changing nature of foundation work, this article highlights three underexplored elements: competing expertise, inconsistent field formalization, and a professionalizing context. Understanding these elements are crucial for implementing effective and equitable field-level initiatives. Focusing on foundation professional experiences challenges the “black box” narrative by providing a greater understanding of foundation work and its evolution.