At a Glance: The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

History: Created in 1964 by David Packard, co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, and his wife, Lucile Salter Packard. The couple expanded the foundation gradually, but when David Packard died in 1996, he left the bulk of his estate to it. (His wife had died nine years earlier.)

Areas of support: The foundation makes grants to charities in the United States and abroad. It makes some of its awards to charities in Pueblo, Colo. — where Mr. Packard was born — and many in the northern California counties of Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz. It makes grants in the following areas: arts and film preservation, children, community, conservation, education, population, and science. It also makes grants to help charities become more effective and to encourage more people to give.

Assets: $3.7-billion; the foundation expects to receive $5.4-billion more from David Packard’s estate by March.

Grants and operating programs: The fund plans to distribute $286-million in 1998. In 1999, the foundation’s giving budget will increase to approximately $450-million. The foundation also administers these programs: the Center for the Future of Children, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, the Packard Fellowship Program for science and engineering, the Packard Scholars Program for Chemistry, Physics, and Math, the Tribal Colleges Science Programs, and the Tribal Scholars Program.

Key officials: Cole Wilbur, executive director; Susan Packard Orr, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Application procedures: Grant decisions are made at board meetings in March, June, September, and December, and grant proposals must be received at least 21/2 months preceding the meeting at which they are to be considered. Proposal guidelines and other information are available on the foundation’s World-Wide Web site.

Address: 300 Second Street, Suite 200, Los Altos, Cal. 94022; (650) 948-7658. World-Wide Web site: http://www.packfound.org