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.
Brian O'Connell, a philanthropist at the Independent Sector, discusses his background, education, and career at the Independent Sector. He speaks of diversity and the interplay between government and philanthropy. O'Connell comments on foundations in United States' society, his thoughts on the future on American philanthropy, and, more specifically, the agenda and description of the Independent Sector.