Foundation Annual Reports

CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK
437 Madison Avenue
New York 10022
(212) 371-3200
World-Wide Web: http://www.carnegie.org
Period covered: Year ending September 30, 1997.

Purpose and areas of support: This grant-making foundation was established in 1911 by the industrialist, steel magnate, and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

The foundation is re-examining its programs, which currently focus on three major areas: the education and healthy development of children and youths, international peace and security, and the strengthening of human resources in developing countries. The foundation also makes a number of grants for special projects that do not fall within those three categories.

In 1996-97, the foundation awarded 263 grants and 8 program appropriations totaling $58,574,129.

Five of the eight appropriations went for current operating programs and study groups of the foundation: the Starting Points State and Community Partnerships for Young Children Initiative; the Middle Grade School State Policy Initiative; the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict, which released its final report in December 1997; the Carnegie Task Force on Learning in the Primary Grades, through which a final appropriation was made to support outreach and presentation of the task force’s report; and the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government, which has disbanded but continues to disseminate reports based on its research.

Grants in the program on children and youths continued to emphasize early-childhood development, child care, teacher training and development, education reform, science education, and adolescent health and development, including increasing young people’s access to health services and reducing violence, pregnancy, and substance abuse.

The international-conflict program supports case studies, analyses, and projects in three areas: preventing intergroup violence on a mass scale, strengthening democratic institutions in the former Soviet Union and Eastern and Central Europe, and cooperative security and the non-proliferation of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons and related technology.

Grants to strengthen human resources in developing countries focus primarily on the English-speaking countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Awards emphasize women’s health and development, transitions to democracy, and expanding local scientific and technical capabilities in order to spur economic development.

Allocations in the special-grants category stressed these three areas: strengthening American democracy, promoting philanthropy and non-profit organizations, and analyzing the potential of higher-education institutions to contribute to society in ways beyond traditional teaching and research.

The foundation is reviewing its current programs and grant-making opportunities; revised guidelines should be available in the late spring or summer.

Application procedure: The foundation has no application forms or formal deadlines. Grant seekers should present a clear and straightforward proposal containing a description of the proposed project’s aims, significance, amount of support required, duration, methods, personnel, and budget. If foundation program officers wish to pursue matters further, they may request a more detailed proposal, and additional materials may be required, including a formal request from the head of the organization and a more precise budget.

Key officials: Vartan Gregorian, president; Vivien Stewart, acting vice-president; Jeanmarie C. Grisi, treasurer; Idalia Holder, director of personnel and administrative services; Avery Russell, director of publications and program officer; Jane E. Holl, executive director of the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict; David A. Hamburg, president emeritus; Thomas H. Kean, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Chief program officers: Geraldine P. Mannion, program officer (special projects); Patricia L. Rosenfield, program chair (human resources in developing countries); David C. Speedie III, program chair (preventing deadly conflict); and Vivien Stewart, program chair (education and development of children and youths).

JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION
One Biscayne Tower, Suite 3800
Two South Biscayne Boulevard
Miami 33131-1803
(305) 908-2600
Period covered: Year ending December 31, 1997.

Purpose and areas of support: The foundation was endowed in 1950 by the brothers John S. and James L. Knight of the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain. In 1997, it appropriated 286 grants totaling $38,890,301 in four main program areas: journalism, which received 19 grants totaling $10,818,289; education, 56 grants totaling $10,701,267; community initiatives, 113 grants totaling $9,195,495; and arts and culture, 72 grants totaling $7,195,250. Seven disaster-relief grants totaling $850,000 and 19 special grants totaling $130,000 were also awarded.

The journalism program is national in scope; grant making focuses on the education of current and future journalists, defense of First Amendment rights, and support for a free press both in the United States and worldwide. For example, a three-year $503,875 award went to the Inter American Press Association in Miami for its “Unpunished Crimes Against Journalists” campaign, which works to bring to justice those guilty of crimes against journalists, particularly in Latin America.

The national education program emphasizes large-scale, collaborative efforts to reform education in kindergarten through the 12th grade. The foundation also makes local grants to educational and literacy organizations in the 26 communities nationwide where the Knight brothers published newspapers.

Grants in the community-initiatives program are made to organizations in those 26 communities: Aberdeen, S.D.; Akron, Ohio; Biloxi, Miss.; Boca Raton, Fla.; Boulder, Colo.; Bradenton, Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbia, S.C.; Columbus, Ga.; Detroit; Duluth, Minn.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Gary, Ind.; Grand Forks, N.D.; Lexington, Ky.; Long Beach, Cal.; Macon, Ga.; Miami; Milledgeville, Ga.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Philadelphia; San Jose, Cal.; St. Paul; State College, Pa.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Wichita, Kan. The foundation will also continue to accept proposals for projects in Contra Costa County, Cal., through June 2000.

Within those communities, the foundation maintains seven priority program areas: arts and culture, children and social welfare, citizenship, community development, education, homelessness, and literacy.

In 1997, the foundation allocated seven grants totaling $1.7- million through its Community Foundations Initiative. Other community-based grants included $250,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami to construct 30 homes for low-income families.

In September 1997, the foundation’s trustees elected Hodding Carter III — a veteran journalist and commentator who had served as assistant secretary of state and State Department spokesman under President Carter — to succeed Creed C. Black, who retired after a decade at the foundation’s helm.

Application procedure: The applicant organization must provide a copy of a letter from the Internal Revenue Service stating that it is tax-exempt under Section 501!(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not a private foundation as defined in Section 509(a) of the code. The foundation does not make grants to individuals. Each of the four major grant programs has separate priorities and eligibility criteria; applicant organizations should contact the foundation for a copy of its “How to Apply for a Grant” guidelines, grant-application cover page, and guidelines for the proposal narrative.

Key officials: Hodding Carter III, president and chief executive officer; Penelope McPhee, vice-president and chief program officer; Timothy J. Crowe, vice-president and chief financial officer; Larry (Bud) Meyer, director of communications; Belinda T. Lawrence, director of administration; John Bare, director of evaluation; J. Bryan McCullar, grants administrator; W. Gerald Austen, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Program directors: Del Brinkman (journalism), Gary Burger (arts and culture), A. Richardson Love, Jr. (education), and Linda L. Raybin (community initiatives).

LILLY ENDOWMENT
P.O. Box 88068
Indianapolis 46208-0068
(317) 924-5471
Period covered: Year ending December 31, 1997.

Purpose and areas of support: The endowment was established in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. The endowment has grown by 140 per cent in the past two years and now surpasses the Ford Foundation as the nation’s wealthiest private foundation (The Chronicle, January 29).

In keeping with the wishes of the founders, it makes grants in three major programs: community development, education, and religion. In 1997, the endowment allocated grants totaling $232.8-million as follows: the community-development program received $118.0-million, or 50.7 per cent; education, $64.6-million, or 27.7 per cent; and religion, $50.2-million, or 21.6 per cent.

Geographically, 76.3 per cent of grant allocations went to non-profit organizations in Indiana.

The community-development program works to benefit Indianapolis residents in these areas: human services, inner-city and neighborhood revitalization, low-cost housing, arts and culture, and programs and facilities that contribute to the city’s economic revitalization and to community recreational opportunities. Statewide, the endowment provides support for United Ways and community foundations.

The endowment announced the third phase of its Community Foundation GIFT Initiative, through which it will provide a $1-million grant to each of the more than 80 county-based community funds in Indiana. The funds must initiate strategies for determining community priorities for the money.

The single-largest grant approved in 1997 was $30-million to the Capital Improvement Board in Indianapolis to expand the city’s downtown convention center and for an employment and training program.

Grants to improve elementary and secondary education are generally confined to projects in Indiana, with an emphasis on Indianapolis. The endowment also supports colleges and universities in Indiana, programs to increase the number of Indiana residents who receive bachelor’s degrees, and private, historically black colleges nationwide.

Fourteen grants totaling $24-million were made to selected public and private higher-education institutions in Indiana to confront the problem of student retention.

Grants in the religion program are made to organizations nationwide for religious-leadership development, theological education, and research on the role of religion in American life and on issues facing mainstream Protestant, historically black, and Roman Catholic churches in Amer- ica.

In addition to its three major programs, the endowment makes some grants in support of youth development, leadership education, and philanthropy and fund raising.

Application procedure: If a charitable organization believes that its request fits within the program guidelines, it may send a preliminary letter of no more than two pages that details the organization, proposed project, and amount of support requested. The endowment responds in writing to all preliminary inquiries. In cases that warrant further consideration, the endowment may ask for a full proposal. The grant-review process takes three to six months. All grant applicants receive written notification of the endowment’s decisions.

Key officials: N. Clay Robbins, president; Craig Dykstra, vice-president for religion; William M. Goodwin, vice-president for community development; Ralph E. Lundgren, vice-president for education; David D. Biber, secretary and treasurer; Thomas M. Lofton, chairman of the Board of Directors; Thomas H. Lake, honorary chairman.