Philanthropy facing the emergence of alternative models: Field-structuring actors’ boundary work to manage cross-field interactions

We draw on a qualitative analysis of the field of Belgian foundations when it faces new actors introducing alternative philanthropic models to understand the uniqueness of field-structuring actors and their institutional work in field-level structuring processes. We find that field-structuring actors undertake various forms of boundary work to manage cross-field interactions between their exchange field and the issue field developing alternative models. Precisely, three a priori opposed forms of boundary work are undertaken simultaneously: bolstering, expanding and smokescreening. As these three forms interact, they mutually reinforce one another, allowing the field-structuring actor to maintain its field while enhancing its subject position through defensive, creative and conservative efforts.