Abstract
The housing sector is sometimes overlooked in evaluations of philanthropy's impact on policy, housing development, and housing management. In the United States, philanthropic giving in the housing sector has grown as a consequence of neoliberal state restructuring since the 1970s. As the state has withdrawn from direct construction and management of social housing, philanthropic and non-profit organizations have grown to fill the gaps left behind. This chapter examines the impact of a national non-profit organization on public housing redevelopment to show how philanthropic foundations have taken on a growing role as directors of housing development at the local level with a deeper hands-on approach to influencing policy decisions. As foundations take on more responsibilities formerly held by the state, we must consider philanthropy as more than charity and gift-giving and recognize foundations as important local-scale political actors.