Carnegie Corporation Annual Reports - Special Projects

Some grantmaking flexibility, embodied in relatively untargeted funds, permits foundations to seize promising and unusual opportunities, support the planning and start-up of new ventures that others may continue, explore possible new programs, and make other grants outside defined program areas.

In recent years, the Corporation's Special Projects funding has tended to coalesce around efforts to strengthen American democracy, to contribute to the health and welfare of the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, and, on occasion, to study ways that universities can contribute to society beyond their traditional teaching and research. Grants have been made for gathering and analyzing information that has been used by researchers, lawyers, and community advocates to enhance citizen participation in democratic processes. A number of projects have challenged discriminatory redistricting and voting practices and assisted eligible immigrants in obtaining citizenship and registering to vote. In addition, support has been given for the use of new communications technologies to provide nonpartisan information about candidates and issues; for analyzing national, state, and local campaign financing and campaign finance reforms; for studying the relationship of economic and social problems; and for fostering public education and debate about global issues.

The Corporation has maintained its membership in, or provided support to, five national organizations concerned with the nonprofit and philanthropic sector — the Council on Foundations, the Foundation Center, Independent Sector, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, and the National Charities Information Bureau — and two local ones, the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers and the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York. These groups publish information about the nonprofit sector, encourage the sector to report fully to the public, and monitor relations between the sector and government. Also under Special Projects, major attention has been given to the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government, an operating program that formally ended in 1993. The Corporation continues to disseminate the commission's reports, and in 1997 it completed projects resulting from commission recommendations and initiatives.

The successor programs, Democracy and Special Projects, will continue to stress electoral reform, especially in campaign finance. In addition, the programs will explore intergroup relations within the United States and the implications of gross disparities of income for the well-being of our democratic system. Special Projects will continue its long-time interests in strengthening the nonprofit sector and increasing public understanding of philanthropy and nonprofit organizations but also explore other opportunities outside the regular program areas. See the 1998–99 program guidelines beginning on p. 89 for more information.

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Seminar series on encouraging civic engagement in the United States. Fifteen months, $150,000.

Communities across the nation are involved in efforts to reverse the decline in citizens' engagement with the political process. The Saguaro Seminar, a project based at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, is systematically assessing these experiments, which include neighborhood revitalization programs, economic development projects, and efforts by parents and other citizens to work together in support of school reform. The seminar, also funded by other foundations, is convening leaders in government, education, business, unions, and the media to review case studies and share strategies. The discussions will be synthesized for distribution to scholars, representatives of nonprofit groups, and the public and are expected to generate practical ideas for renewing community life.

Thomas H. Sander, Executive Director, Saguaro Seminar. (www.ksg.harvard.edu/saguaro)

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Atlanta, GA. Voting Rights Project. Three years, $500,000.

The Voting Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation provides litigation assistance and public education regarding redistricting and minority voter participation. The project has played a leading role in the creation of congressional and state legislative districting plans that increase fair political representation for minority groups. It is now responding to federal courts' challenges to the constitutionality of these districts. It is also bringing litigation to ensure states' and localities' compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which requires social service agencies and departments of motor vehicles to provide voter registration information and applications on site. Additional funding comes from the Ford and Rockefeller foundations.

Laughlin McDonald, Director, Voting Rights Project. (www.aclu.org)

Center for Community Change, Washington, DC. Increasing the public policy capacity of community-based organizations (final). Two years, $300,000.

The Center for Community Change helps persons of low income shape the policies and institutional processes that affect them and their communities. Center staff members provide public policy education, technical assistance, and organizational training to nonprofit groups in urban neighborhoods, rural areas, small towns, and settlements along the U.S.–Mexico border. A weekly Policy Alert is distributed by e-mail and fax to a broad range of community-based organizations and individuals. The center, also supported by individuals, corporations, and private foundations, is continuing to facilitate networking between organizations and to hold workshops about changes in federal antipoverty programs. It is also assisting fund-raising efforts for the State Welfare Redesign Grants Pool, a program that helps state and local groups participate in welfare reform activities.

Andrew H. Mott, Executive Director. (www.commchange.org)

Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Los Angeles, CA. Asian Pacific American Public Policy Institute. Two years, $300,000.

Asian Pacific peoples living in the United States comprise more than sixty racial and ethnic groups and subgroups, each with its own history, language, and culture. To respond to the need for disaggregated data on issues affecting this community, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics in 1992 established the Asian Pacific American Public Policy Institute. The institute's reports, which have covered topics including poverty, immigration, and affirmative action, are followed by public policy roundtables in major cities. A new study will explore how non-Asians view Asian Pacific Americans and how Asian Pacific Americans view non-Asians and each other.

J. D. Hokoyama, President and Executive Director.

William C. Velasquez Institute, San Antonio, TX. Support. Two years, $200,000.

The William C. Vel‡squez Institute, formerly the Southwest Voter Research Institute, works to increase Latinos' political participation. As the basis for a new nonpartisan voter education and outreach program, the institute is conducting demographic and survey research among young voters, naturalized voters, and occasional voters in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Bilingual educational materials, including public service announcements on Latinos' contributions to the United States, will be developed in partnership with Univision, the nation's largest Spanish-language television network. Individuals, corporations, government contracts, and other foundations also provide support.

Antonio Gonz‡lez, President. (www.wcvi.org)

Southern Regional Council, Atlanta, GA. Voting rights and voter participation project; and improving fund-raising capabilities. Eighteen months, $250,000.

The Southern Regional Council formulates strategies to promote full democratic rights for African Americans and other minorities in the region and the nation. The central aim of its voting programs is to ensure that electoral districts fairly represent minority constituents. The council's members — local, state, and national leaders from the eleven southern states — provide civil rights lawyers and elected officials with information and model redistricting plans for cities, counties, school boards, legislatures, congressional seats, and state judiciaries. In addition to diversifying its revenue sources and publishing a manual on alternative voting methods for voting rights advocates and litigators, the council is upgrading its technical capacity to serve more localities following Census 2000 redistricting. Further funding comes from the Ford Foundation.

Wendy S. Johnson, Executive Director. (www.src.w1.com)

United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, Chicago, IL. Support. Two years, $200,000.

The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute conducts voter registration and education campaigns in urban and rural communities and attempts to sustain citizen participation projects after the campaigns end. With further support from the Ford Foundation and from corporations, unions, and individuals, the institute (formerly the Midwest–Northeast Voter Registration Education Project) is organizing fifty local leadership development programs in the Midwest and Northeast. Elected and appointed officials are meeting with local leaders to discuss government operations and public policy issues such as city planning, municipal services, school curricula, judicial systems, and local elections.

Juan Andrade, President.

Center for Responsive Politics, Washington, DC. Support. Two years, $250,000.

The Center for Responsive Politics works to educate the public about the role of money in American politics. In addition to analyzing the sources of contributions to candidates for the U.S. Congress, staff members provide technical assistance to regional organizations that monitor state and local campaign financing. Visitors to the center's World Wide Web site can use the "Do-it-Yourself Congressional Investigation Kit" to track the relationship between lawmakers' votes on specific issues and the timing and source of campaign contributions. The center, which receives further support from other foundations, is using $50,000 of the grant to consider ways to expand its revenue base over the next three to five years.

Larry Makinson, Executive Director. (www.crp.org)

Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, New York, NY. Establishing a public policy division. Two years, $200,000.

The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund conducts advocacy, education, and litigation to safeguard the rights of Latinos. In January 1998 the fund merged with the nonpartisan Institute for Puerto Rican Policy, resulting in a new public policy division. During the division's first two years of operation, fund staff members are documenting the status of English-only laws and practices in states with significant Latino populations and assessing the policy implications of these laws. They are also monitoring the economic effects that welfare changes in selected states are having on Latinos. The Ford and Rockefeller foundations provide additional funding.

Angelo Falcon, Senior Policy Executive and Director, Public Policy Division. (www.iprnet.org/IPR)

Communications Consortium Media Center, Washington, DC. Media outreach and public education on the U.S. Census 2000. Two years, $250,000.

In the 1990 census, the undercount of minority and poor citizens was estimated to be significant. To increase the public's awareness of and informed participation in Census 2000, the Communications Consortium Media Center is launching an outreach project. The center, a public interest organization that helps nonprofit groups use telecommunications technology for public education projects, is informing the media, state and local officials, business professionals, and leaders in communities of color about decisions affecting the form and content of the census. Publications are being prepared by leading academics, scientists, and policymakers on such topics as redistricting, the impact of the census of 2000 on social policy, and the allocation of federal funds. Other foundations also provide support.

Kathy Bonk, Executive Director. (www.census2000.org)

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Los Angeles, CA. Outreach and education program on the U.S. Census 2000. Twenty-five months, $250,000.

To minimize the undercount of Latinos in the 2000 census, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (maldef) is conducting its fourth census-related community outreach program. The program, also supported by other foundations, uses census awareness task forces, outreach networks, and print and broadcast media to inform the Latino community of the importance of taking part in the census. maldef staff members are also collaborating with the Bureau of the Census to ensure that the bureau's outreach efforts are bilingual and that the census form includes items important for determining the needs of the Latino community. As in the past, maldef will analyze the official results of the census when they become available, in early 2001.

Antonia Hern‡ndez, President and General Counsel. (www.maldef.org)

Center for National Independence in Politics, Corvallis, OR. Information services for citizen education. Two years, $300,000.

Project Vote Smart, the popular name of the Center for National Independence in Politics, is a national effort to provide voters and reporters with reliable information about political candidates at all levels. Based at Oregon State and Northeastern universities, the project offers access to candidates' voting records, campaign financing, performance evaluations, biographies, and position statements through publications, a toll-free hotline, and the World Wide Web. The center is increasing its collaboration with libraries, doubling its Internet capacity, and extending its outreach to low-income, minority, and young voters. Individuals and other foundations provide further support.

Richard Kimball, Director. (www. vote-smart.org)

Foundation Center, New York, NY. Support. Two years, $150,000.

The Foundation Center, established in 1956 by the Corporation and the Russell Sage Foundation, provides information on foundations and corporate giving and publishes reference books on these and related subjects. It operates full-service libraries in New York, Washington, Cleveland, San Francisco, and Atlanta and 200 cooperating collections around the country. All five libraries have electronic resource centers, where users can gain access to the center's databases and to its World Wide Web site. The site offers basic instruction in grantseeking techniques and proposal writing, highlights the center's research studies, and provides hyperlinks to related Web sites. The center now receives support from more than 500 foundations and corporations nationwide.

Sara L. Engelhardt, President. (www.fdncenter.org)

Aspen Institute, Washington, DC. Nonprofit Sector Research Fund. Two years, $200,000.

The Nonprofit Sector Research Fund, a program of the Aspen Institute, offers an independent vehicle for foundations, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and individual donors to support basic and applied research on the charitable sector in the United States and other countries. The fund, which is also supported by other foundations, focuses on three areas: the role of nonprofits and philanthropy in society; the relationship of public policy to nonprofits and the people they serve; and nonprofit accountability, governance, and management. Research findings are disseminated through a variety of channels, including public forums. The fund also organizes conferences at which academics, government representatives, practitioners, and others explore issues in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.

Alan J. Abramson, Director, Nonprofit Sector Research Fund. (www.aspeninst.org)

Independent Sector, Washington, DC. Public education program. Two years, $250,000.

Independent Sector, a coalition of 800 corporate, foundation, and national nonprofit groups, educates the public about philanthropy and volunteering and attempts to strengthen the work of the charitable sector. In addition to producing kits for member organizations containing fact sheets and articles about volunteering, charitable giving, and ethics and accountability, Independent Sector issues publications for the media, policymakers, and the public. These include the Nonprofit Almanac, which documents changes in the finances and sources of funds of nonprofit organizations and reports on surveys of giving and volunteering among adults and teenagers. Further support comes from other foundations.

Sara A. MelŽndez, President. (www.indepsec.org)

American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC. Center to provide science and technology information to members of Congress (final). Two years, $200,000.

Creation of a nonprofit institute to promote dialogue between scientists and policymakers was a major recommendation of the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government (1988–93). The Center for Science, Technology, and Congress, founded in 1994 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (aaas), informs scientists and legislators at all levels about federal funding for research and development. Under this final grant, staff members are preparing a guidebook on science and technology issues and reports on cloning, high-energy physics, and encryption technology. These and other publications will be added to the center's World Wide Web site. Additional supporters include the aaas, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

Albert H. Teich, Director, Center for Science, Technology, and Congress. (www.aaas.org/spp/dspp/cstc)

Discretionary Grants

American Assembly, Columbia University, New York, NY
Toward a national meeting on the future of philanthropy, $25,000

Institute for Puerto Rican Policy, New York, NY
Toward preparations for a merger with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, $25,000

Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Toward travel for participants in an India–Pakistan dialogue in the health sciences, $25,000

New York Community Trust, New York, NY
As a final grant toward the naturalization project of the Fund for New Citizens, $25,000

Northeast Citizen Action Resource Center, Hartford, CT
Toward planning a funders' collaborative to support statewide citizens' coalitions, $25,000

Public Citizen Foundation, Washington, DC
Toward a seminar on constitutional issues in campaign finance reform, $25,000

Rutgers University Foundation, New Brunswick, NJ
For use by the Walt Whitman Center for the Culture and Politics of Democracy for research and a planning conference on renewing civil society, $25,000

University of Texas, Austin, Austin, TX
As a final grant toward the publication of essays on restoring broadly shared prosperity, $25,000