The American Foundations Oral History Project consists of a series of interviews with prominent American philanthropists, each of whom relates their background, the development of their values, and their philosophies of philanthropy. The purpose and state of American philanthropy, including those family foundations and corporate foundations, form a central topic, as do the recent trend of increasing diversity and opinions on grant evaluation and philanthropic assessment. In addition, many interviewees comment on the role of government in philanthropy and the system of ethics at play in American philanthropy.
Benjamin R. Shute, Jr., the corporate secretary of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, discusses his childhood, family life, education, and how each of these influenced the development of the values which direct his judgement in his career in philanthropy. He speaks of the Rockefellers as a family and as a foundation, their special interests, international projects, focus on New York City, and diversification to include minorities in the grant making and grant receiving process. In addition, he discusses the creation of New Ventures, a nonprofit consulting organization.