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, Landrum Bolling discusses his past, including his childhood, his religious and moral upbringing with Quaker and Baptist influences, his education and career, and his eventual work in philanthropy. He speaks of his intimate association with the Lilly Endowment, and its focus on the importance of education in the state of Indiana and throughout the world. Bolling also comments on his personal philosophy on philanthropy, and describes some of the places and events which influenced this philosophy.
Charles A. Johnson, a foundation officer of the Lilly Endowment and former fundraiser, discusses the influences of his background, religion, and education on his values and philosophy of philanthropy. He speaks of the Lilly family, their commitment to philanthropy, and the three main areas of emphasis in the Lilly Endowment: religion, education, and community development. Johnson discusses the Endowment's grant making process in these areas, in addition to commenting on philanthropic ethics, the causes and effects of the 1969 Tax Reform Act, and the Endowment's traditional emphasis on making grants in Indianapolis.