Anchor Institutions

Anchor institutions are entities such as hospitals, universities, foundations, and cultural organizations with a substantial and enduring stake in a community coupled with an operational scale to provide a stable source of jobs, resources, and other economic activity as major contributions to a community’s wealth. As the global economy has evolved in the 21st century to outsource U.S. manufacturing and production, governmental responsibility has devolved to states and municipalities, risk has shifted from society to individuals, jobs are insecure, and incomes are unstable. Meanwhile, rapid urbanization and the rising knowledge and service sectors have strengthened the economic and civic leadership role of U.S. nonprofit institutions.

This entry traces the history of anchor institutions in the United States, their growing economic role and impact, the various models ...