However beneficial the foreign funds have been, the implications of this kind of international resource base for social movement organizing are complex. The most striking negative effect of foreign grants on the Russian women's movement is divisiveness. Aside from travel and research grants, foreign funders in Russia give grants to organizations, not to individuals. Usually it is only the leaders of the recipient organization who will gain a salary from the grant. Thus, in order for as many people as possible to get funding, the incentive is for many people to form their own small groups.
Competition arises for funding and for fringe benefits, like trips abroad.
The presence of scarce and valued resources also fosters jealousy. Women's groups that succeed in obtaining foreign grants are often accused of trying to monopolize or hoard their Western contacts. Mutual suspicion hampers cooperation between women's groups. Foreign resources can also play an influential role in setting movement priorities and tactics. Foundations' priorities also condition the choices that women's groups make, when considering what projects might be fundable, and thus, which projects to submit for grants.