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.
Peter Buchanan, president of CASE, or Council for Advancement and Support of Education, discusses his background, education, and career, and how each of these have influenced his philosophy of, and practical implications about, philanthropy. He emphasizes his years as a student and administrator at Columbia University in the late nineteen sixties and early seventies as a time when his values and perspective were significantly shaped and cemented. Buchanan stresses the need for philanthropic gifts for education, the importance of fundraising for education, the crisis in education, and his fears for the future of corporate philanthropy.
Raymond Crabbs, the former president of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, or NSFRE, discusses his career history, the values he has developed throughout the course of his life, and his philosophy of philanthropy in this interview. Crabbs speaks of his tenure at NSFRE and emphasizes the differences between corporate and foundation philanthropy, mentioning some major players in each realm. In addition, he discusses the under-representation of minorities in the professional field of philanthropy, internal politics within organizations, and the political leanings of philanthropic organizations either toward liberal or conservative agendas.