Philanthropy, the Big Society and emerging philanthropic relationships in the UK

Daly critiques the UK government’s "Big Society" initiative for encouraging philanthropic action without adequate support structures. She shows it fostered new funder-state collaborations, but often reinforced neoliberal tendencies. The article calls for stronger mechanisms to ensure philanthropy supports public value rather than privatized governance. It emphasizes the need for policies that genuinely empower civil society while safeguarding against the risks of market-driven approaches to social provision. The author advocates for a more robust framework to guide philanthropic engagement in public service delivery.