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.
Philip Bernstein discusses the beginning of his interest in philanthropy and traces his career at the Jewish Community Federation in this interview. He discusses Jewish and non-Jewish philanthropy, values, and social welfare, and he speaks of the ease and importance of cooperation between these groups. In addition, Bernstein speaks of the impact of the rise of Hitler and Nazism on Jewish philanthropy, of philanthropic involvement with the Independent Sector, and the impact of the Great Depression and World War II on social ideals and social welfare.
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.
This project centers around interviews with professional and/or personal acquaintances of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom. Every interview explores a unique relationship with the Ostroms and the continuing impact of the Ostrom Workshop at Indiana University. Elinor (Lin) and Vincent Ostrom founded the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis in 1973.The Ostrom Workshop has been the catalyst for worldwide collaboration in the field of public policy and environmental issues. "Coming Together" is an interdisciplinary exploration of the legacy and impact of Elinor (Lin) and Vincent Ostrom. Major topics include; academia, "the commons", cross-disciplinary collaboration, Elinor Ostrom's Nobel Prize, the Ostrom Workshop, political science, political theory, and the Workshop on the Ostrom Workshop (WOW) conference. The project was created to assist in the dissertation research of Sara Catherine Clark, who was a doctoral candidate within the School of Education, pursing a Ph.D. in History, Philosophy, and Policy in Education, at Indiana University Bloomington. Sara Catherine Clark's dissertation was completed in 2019 and is cited as follows: Clark, S. C. (2019). Elinor ostrom: A biography of interdisciplinary life.
Catherine Tucker has a joint appointment with the Department of Anthropology and the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida. Tucker begins her interview by recounting how she met Elinor Ostrom and her experiences with her at the Center for the Study of Institutions, Population, and Environmental Change (CIPEC). She goes on to discuss Ostrom as a mentor and her own teaching. Tucker then talks about her work at the Ostrom Workshop which includes her teaching with the International Forestry Research and Institutions Research Program (IFRI). The interview concludes with Tucker reflecting on Elinor Ostrom and Vincent Ostrom and how they, especially Elinor Ostrom, would want to be remembered.