Member Reports

Over the past few years, foundations of all kinds have been paying increasing attention to ways their resources can have greater impact by effecting policy and systems change. This trend has led foundations to reassess how they do their work and who their likely partners are. As a result, a body of knowledge within philanthropy is being created about how to successfully draw on foundation resources to change policy.

GIA member and board member Ben Cameron (Doris Duke Charitable Foundation) called this opportunity to our attention. We are grateful to Jean Cook at the Future of Music Coalition for putting this article together quickly as we went to press.

The Boston Foundation is one of the oldest community foundations in the nation. With an asset base of about $500 million, it makes grants of approximately $20 million each year in the Greater Boston area. For the past four years, the Foundation's discretionary grantmaking has been guided by its Building Family and Community Initiative. This initiative focuses on helping Boston's children and their families overcome poverty.

The Goldfarb Foundation, a small family foundation based in Boulder, Colorado, was established in 1992 by its president Peter Goldfarb, who is one of three trustees. The Foundation's grantmaking mirrors Goldfarb's longtime involvement in the arts, education, and Buddhism, and grants are made primarily to organizations working in the arts and education. Goldfarb is himself a professional director, actor, and teacher.

William L. McKnight, for many years president and chairman of the board of the 3M Company, and his wife, Maude L. McKnight, founded The McKnight Foundation in 1953. The Foundation's assets totaled $1.5 billion in 1996 and its grantmaking in that year totaled $68.3 million. The Foundation has no affiliation with the 3M Company.

The Henry Luce Foundation was founded in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, cofounder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc. The Foundation's assets total approximately $700 million and support programs in American art, Asia, higher education, public affairs, theology, and women in science.

The Prince Charitable Trusts were established fifty years ago by the Prince family. The foundation has grantmaking programs in three geographic locations: Chicago, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C. The Trusts' assets total $160 million with projected 1998 grant distribution of $7 million in the three locations.

The Vancouver Foundation, the largest community foundation in Canada, was founded in 1943. Its assets totaled approximately $515 million at the end of 1997. The Foundation supports the activities of charitable organizations throughout British Columbia (BC). Advisory committees assist with decision-making in six of the Foundation's grantmaking areas. Committee members serve for three years and have the responsibility of reviewing grantmaking goals annually.

The Arts and the Public Purpose 92nd American Assembly

From May 29 through June 1 of this year, seventy-eight individuals interested in the arts in the United States came together for the 92nd American Assembly at Arden House in Harriman, New York to debate "The Arts and the Public Purpose." The American Assembly was established by Dwight D. Eisenhower at Columbia University in 1950. Each year it holds at least two nonpartisan meetings on topics related to United States policy, each of which gives rise to a book on the subject discussed.

The Metropolitan Denver Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) is a new member of GIA. It is a six-county regional public funding agency, formed ten years ago this coming November. It was created at a time when much public funding was being challenged, if not actively cut back. The formation of the district and its continuing success have been models for a number of other communities.