The Insider's Guide to Grantmaking: How Foundations Find, Fund, and Manage Effective Programs

Epilogue

The Future of Formal Philanthropy

Of all of the major societal institutions in the United States, formalized philanthropy—and private foundations in particular—are among the newest. Harvard University had celebrated a quarter-millennium of existence before the first U.S. private foundation opened its doors for business. Although invented in the late nineteenth century, the private foundation did not hit its stride until the twentieth. And the twentieth has been a century of considerable achievement for private foundations. With their support, diseases have been conquered, educational opportunities at all levels have been increased, human services have been enhanced, the arts have been enriched, the environment has been improved, and ...