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.
In this interview, William Aramony discusses his career in philanthropy and social work which has culminated in his ascension to the position of president of the United Way of America. Aramony speaks about the organization and mission of the United Way, the changes it has undergone, some of its main functions and beneficiaries, and the central issue of fundraising, especially in the context of the growing number of government-supported not-for-profit organizations increasing competition for a limited amount of available funds.
Leo J. Brennan, Jr., who deals with decisions and dispersals of grant monies and philanthropic awards of the Ford Fund, discusses his career history and philosophy of philanthropy in this interview. He speaks of corporate philanthropy and the major goal of the Ford Fund of supporting education. In addition, Brennan describes his work, the types of grant requests he receives, and the type of applicants involved.
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.