Foundation Annual Reports

NATHAN CUMMINGS FOUNDATION
1926 Broadway, Suite 600
New York 10023
(212) 787-7300
World-Wide Web: http://www.ncf.org
Period covered: Year ending December 31, 1997.

Purpose and areas of support: The foundation was established in 1949 by Nathan Cummings, the owner of what would become the Sara Lee Corporation. He left the majority of his estate to the foundation upon his death, in 1985. Grant making focuses on five program areas: the arts, the environment, health, Jewish life, and interprogram.

The foundation awarded 50 arts-related grants, which emphasized community-based arts-education programs that benefit at-risk youths; community-based and culturally specific arts groups; and projects, exhibitions, and other artistic endeavors that explore the arts in conjunction with the environment, health, or Jewish life.

Sixty-two grants were made through the environmental program, which focused on transportation alternatives that do not damage the environment and that reduce the use of automobiles; economic and fiscal policies that affect the environment; the role of “spirit, values, and ethics” in supporting environmental protection and the reduced consumption of resources; and environmental education and advocacy on college and university campuses.

The foundation awarded 27 grants through the health program, which stressed projects that promote humane, patient-centered care. Particular emphasis is given to programs that benefit low-income pregnant women, infants and young children, and dying people.

A total of 76 grants were made through the Jewish-life program, which emphasized projects on traditional and contemporary forms of Jewish spirituality, outreach to intermarried and unaffiliated Jews, Jewish education, and alliances between Jews and non-Jews in pursuit of social justice.

In conjunction with the Dorot Foundation, the fund also operates the Israel Cooperative Program, which supports projects that promote Jewish pluralism, protect the environment, and empower Arabs, members of other minority groups, and women in Israel.

The foundation allocated 46 grants through the interprogram area, which focused on democratic values and pluralism, challenges to non-profit groups, and research and education about meditation and contemplation and their beneficial effects on health and other areas of daily life.

Application procedure: Potential applicants should send a two- to three-page letter of inquiry that contains the following elements: basic information about the organization, including a brief statement of its activities, history, and tax-exempt status; name, title, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address (if applicable) of a contact person; issues and problems to be taken up by the proposed project; names, titles, and qualifications of staff members who will be involved in the project; budget information, including total budget of the organization and total budget for the project; total dollar amount requested from the foundation and time frame for which funds are being requested; and other sources from which grant support has been received or sought. The foundation’s staff will review letters of inquiry and, if they desire, will request a full application and supporting materials.

Key officials: Charles R. Halpern, president and chief executive officer; Henry Tzu Ng, vice-president; Claudine K. Brown, director, arts program; Rachel Cowan, director, Jewish-life program; Andrea Kydd, director, health program; David A. Miller, director, special projects; Ellen Ehrenkranz, director of finance; Andrea Titus, grants administrator; Reynold Levy, chair of the Board of Trustees.

DADE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2780
Miami 33131-2343
(305) 371-2711
e-mail: dadecomfnd@aol.com >
Period covered: Year ending December 31, 1997.

Purpose and areas of support: The foundation was created in 1967; it awards both discretionary and donor-advised grants to benefit residents of Miami and Dade County, Fla.

The fund stresses efforts to “resolve Miami’s most intractable problems — cultural alienation and lack of community cohesion,” and it considers all grant proposals within that framework. Grant making focuses on the arts and culture, economic development, education, the environment, health, human services, religion, and social justice.

Grants included $5,000 to the Haitian Organization of Women to train women in the garment industry, and $4,000 to the Miami Symphony Orchestra to increase children’s understanding of classical music by bringing musicians to elementary schools for performances and discussions.

In the wake of Hurricane Andrew, which struck in August 1992, the foundation created a 10-year program to respond to related long-term needs.

The foundation periodically issues requests for proposals under special grant programs. Programs being administered this year include the South Florida Community AIDS Partnership Prevention and Direct Services Initiative; the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, supported by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund; and the New Americans Project, supported by the Emma Lazarus Fund of the Open Society Institute. The foundation also manages a small revolving-loan fund for arts and cultural organizations.

Application procedure: All non-profit organizations in Dade County, Fla., that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to apply for unrestricted or field-of-interest grants. Grants to government agencies are made on a very restricted basis. Grants are not made to individuals or for fund-raising events, memberships, or memorials. The Board of Governors meets annually in February to consider requests for unrestricted grants. The deadline for receipt of full proposals is November 30.

Key officials: Ruth Shack, president; Gene C. Sulzberger, director of development and communications; Todd C. Weeks, director of finance; Charisse Grant, director of programs; Patricia M. Chin-You, administrative officer; Henry C. Tie-Shue, chair of the Board of Governors.

RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION
One Mellon Bank Center
500 Grant Street, Suite 4106
Pittsburgh 15219-2502
(412) 392-2800
Period covered: Year ending December 31, 1997.

Purpose and areas of support: The foundation was created in 1947 by Richard King Mellon, former chairman of the board of the Mellon National Bank and Trust Company.

The foundation maintains two major areas of interest: programs to improve the quality of life in Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania, and efforts to protect forests, wetlands, and other natural resources nationwide. In 1997, grants totaling $61.9-million were made in these program areas: conservation, which received $27.9-million; culture, $11.8-million; human services, $9.4-million; education, $6.2-million; civic affairs, $3.3-million; and medicine, $3.3-million.

The foundation’s American Land Conservation Program identifies and purchases areas of historical or environmental importance and is the fund’s single largest grant-making priority. Through the program, eight tracts of land were acquired and 16 tracts of land were donated to public agencies and private groups. For example, a 2,590-acre tract along the Chariton River in southern Iowa went to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to restore fish and wildlife habitats.

Human-services grants emphasized Pittsburgh-area organizations that work with at-risk individuals and families. Allocations included $750,000 to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation for a loan fund to finance low-cost housing.

Education grants focused on reforming public education in Pittsburgh and on higher-education institutions. For example, a three-year, $60,000 grant went to the University of Pittsburgh to expand the “Investing Now” tutoring program for local black high-school students interested in engineering, mathematics, and science careers.

Application procedure: Proposals should include a completed application form, obtainable from the foundation, and should be addressed to Michael Watson, vice-president and director. In addition to the application form, applicants must include a copy of the latest Internal Revenue Service letter indicating tax-exempt status under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a); an executive summary providing an overview of the organization, the proposed project, the problem concerned, the population to be served, and how the project will be operated; a list of board members and officers; the background of the organization, including its history, purpose, and types of programs provided; audited financial statements for the last two years; operating budget and timetable for the proposed project; available annual reports, brochures, and catalogues; other sources of support and an explanation of how the project will be financed at the expiration of the proposed grant; and the method to be used in evaluating the project’s success. The foundation does not make grants to individuals or to organizations outside the United States.

Key officials: Seward Prosser Mellon, president and chairman of the Executive Committee; Michael Watson, vice-president and program director; Scott Izzo, program officer; Ann Marie Helms, program associate; Richard P. Mellon, chairman of the Board of Trustees.