Private Foundation Funding Research Articles

Recognizing Complexity in Our Changing Contexts: Centering What Matters in Comparative and International Education

Recognizing Complexity in Our Changing Contexts: Centering What Matters in Comparative and International Education

Private foundations in the Czech Republic: 10 years on the road

Abstract In the early years following the enactment of the “new” Czech Civil Code it was not clear whether the newly introduced conceptual approaches in the area of foundation law would prove successful. The “private element”, or the possibility to use these structures as a tool for managing (family) assets, has not only brought considerable dynamics to the foundation sphere, but also the need for a fundamental change in thinking. In 2021, it is a reality that foundations (foundations and foundation funds), in addition to trust funds, are beginning to be used for “private” purposes. The authors of this article aim to outline the basic contours of the development and the current state of affairs of private foundations and foundation funds in the Czech legal environment.

Private Foundation Grants to DAFs: Attorney General Charitable Trust Oversight Calls for Disclosure of Use of Funds

$3 billion was transferred from over 2,200 U.S. private foundations to five donor advised fund (DAF) sponsors between 2010 and 2018. Within this universe, a growing number of private foundations have made a single grant during a reporting year to a commercial DAF. Looking just at transfers to the top five commercial DAF sponsors, 35 foundations transferred the entirety of their annual grantmaking to DAFs between 2010 and 2018. These transactions offered no tax benefit, but in effect excused private foundations from two legal requirements for U.S.-based private foundations derived from the Tax Reform Act of 1969: reporting grant recipients1 and the 5 percent annual payout requirement.2 Such grantmaking, while facially charitable and in-line with the requirements put forth in the 1969 legislation, not only risks breaches of restrictions established by the foundations’ founding documents but also obscures all aspects of the recipients of private foundation funding by providing no context for when or where the charitable dollars will be used. Private foundation-to-DAF transfers frustrate state attorneys general’s ability to fulfill their supervisory duties to monitor and ensure that charitable dollars held by charitable trusts are used for their intended purpose. This paper examines the governing authority and practices of state attorneys general offices as relating to a special problem of charitable trust enforcement: private foundation grantmaking to commercial DAFs. The authors examine the regulatory challenges based on interviews with both current and former attorneys from nine attorney general offices, as well as interviews with commercial DAF sponsors. Charities regulators’ ability to fulfill their supervisory duties related to private foundation-to-DAF grantmaking is blocked by the lack of transparency on the use of funds transferred to DAFs. Thus, charities regulators cannot ensure that private foundations’ grantmaking fulfills restrictions on their charitable giving, and the public is unable to see charitable activity ordinarily subject to public inspection. In order to equip charity regulators to effectively enforce state charitable trust requirements, the paper concludes with two recommendations: 1. Charitable trusts should be required to report to state attorneys general all grants made or approved for future payment from DAF accounts to which they have transferred funds, subject to public inspection, and 2. Attorney General’s offices should respond to the growth of charitable funds held in trust by devoting increased resources to monitoring charitable trusts and donor advised funds.

Editors’ Note and Prologue

* Abbreviations: AIR-P — : Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health ASD — : autism spectrum disorder ATN — : Autism Treatment Network ED — : emergency department HRSA — : Health Resources and Services Administration MCHB — : Maternal and Child Health Bureau Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience significant developmental challenges and complex co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions,1–3 and they are at risk for considerable unmet health care needs.4–8 As the reported prevalence of ASD continues to rise,9,10 the need for a health care system that is fully equipped to meet the needs of this population is increasingly important. We are pleased to introduce the third supplement to Pediatrics led by the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) with support from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act.11 The 2 previous supplements led by the AIR-P were published in 2012 and 2016, and the work presented in this volume represents significant advances in improving the health and well-being of children with ASD through innovations in research and practice. The articles in this supplement describe infrastructure investments, multiinstitutional collaborations, new models of practice, and original research focused on improving care in multiple locations and contexts for children with ASD and their families. The work reflected in this supplement would not have been possible without considerable federal and private foundation funding. This infrastructure support enabled researchers, clinicians, family members, and key stakeholders to engage in dynamic partnerships to share knowledge and improve systems of care. The supplement begins with an overview of the reach of the HRSA-MCHB Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Program and its alignment with federal priorities for ASD research.11 The AIR-P represents 1 of 5 autism research networks funded by HRSA and MCHB. In 2008, the … Address correspondence to Evdokia Anagnostou, MD, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, ON M4G1R8, Canada. Email: eanagnostou{at}hollandbloorview.ca

Equality and quality: The influence of private funds in public arts education in Boston and Baltimore

The aim of this article is to explore the influence of private foundation funding on arts policy and practice in two large, urban school districts: Boston Public Schools and Baltimore City Schools. Both school systems experienced declining enrollments and graduation rates, and in an era of high stakes testing and accountability, schools in both districts were described as “failing.” Central administration positions were eliminated in both school systems, and more authority over budget and program decisions was given to school principals. These building leaders often verbally supported the value of arts education, yet they felt unable to support arts educators in their school budgets. It was not surprising when they accepted nongovernmental funds to expand arts instruction in their schools. A priority for educational philanthropists is to help schools compensate for social inequalities, which was true of the funders who supported arts education in Baltimore and Boston. But increased access to arts instruction does not guarantee that every student in a school system receives a high-quality, sustained arts education. Using relevant literature to describe quality in arts education, an argument is made that equality can be achieved only to the extent that discussions of quality are central to strategic planning for arts expansion. Finally, philanthropic investments in research and advocacy have been considered some of the most prudent investments in education. Although research has not yet been conducted on the Baltimore or Boston arts education expansion, well-designed studies could support the models and expand the arts education vision to other, similar school systems.

Disparities in Foundation and Federal Support and Development of New Therapeutics for Sickle Cell Disease and Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) are rare inherited disorders of similar severity. Disparities in funding between these two diseases have been long recognized and likely contribute to limited access to care and treatments for sickle cell disease. Private investment in therapeutics for these and other orphan diseases has greatly increased in the past ten years. We hypothesized that these increased private expenditures may help correct disparities in research publications, clinical trials, and FDA approval of new therapies. METHODS: We compared funding and research output for SCD and CF between 2008-2012 versus 2013-2017. We estimated disease-specific funding using NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools and the Form 990 financial reports for foundation expenditures of multiple organizations dedicated to each disease from 2008-2016. We developed a comprehensive search strategy to identify relevant publications in PubMed and new postings of US based interventional clinical trials by disease. In addition, we reviewed FDA drug approvals and new indications for each disease from 2008-2017. RESULTS: Average annual NIH funding per affected individual was 3.4-fold greater for CF than SCD from 2008 to 2016. Between 2008-2012, private foundation funding was 161-fold greater for CF than SCD. Between 2013-2016, private funding was 971-fold greater for CF than SCD. There were 1.8 times as many PubMed publications for CF compared to SSD. There was no significant difference in PubMed publications between the two time periods. There was a significant increase in interventional clinical trials for SCD between 2013-2017, with the largest increase coming from university/philanthropic funded trials. However, CF has significantly increased FDA drug approvals of both novel compounds and novel indications. CONCLUSIONS: Although the US prevalence of SCD is three times greater than CF, the amount of federal and private foundation research funding is magnitudes greater for CF. Foundation funding for CF benefited significantly from revenue based on the successful development of targeted therapies. However, despite the significant funding difference, the number of clinical trials for SSD are comparable to CF and have increased over the past few years. Research productivity as measured by articles indexed in PubMed, and new drug approvals remain substantially higher for cystic fibrosis despite greatly increased industry investment in orphan diseases. Disclosures Strouse: Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy.

State of HIV in the US Deep South.

The Southern United States has been disproportionately affected by HIV diagnoses and mortality. To inform efforts to effectively address HIV in the South, this manuscript synthesizes recent data on HIV epidemiology, care financing, and current research literature on factors that predispose this region to experience a greater impact of HIV. The manuscript focuses on a specific Southern region, the Deep South, which has been particularly affected by HIV. Epidemiologic data from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the Deep South had the highest HIV diagnosis rate and the highest number of individuals diagnosed with HIV (18,087) in 2014. The percentage of new HIV diagnoses that were female has decreased over time (2008-2014) while increasing among minority MSM. The Deep South also had the highest death rates with HIV as an underlying cause of any US region in 2014. Despite higher diagnosis and death rates, the Deep South received less federal government and private foundation funding per person living with HIV than the US overall. Factors that have been identified as contributors to the disproportionate effects of HIV in the Deep South include pervasive HIV-related stigma, poverty, higher levels of sexually transmitted infections, racial inequality and bias, and laws that further HIV-related stigma and fear. Interventions that address and abate the contributors to the spread of HIV disease and the poorer HIV-related outcomes in the Deep South are warranted. Funding inequalities by region must also be examined and addressed to reduce the regional disparities in HIV incidence and mortality.

Beyond Knowledge Ventriloquism and Echo Chambers: Raising the quality of the Debate in Teacher Education

Background/Context For over two decades, there has been a steady call for deregulating U.S. teacher education, closing down allegedly poor quality college and university programs, and creating greater market competition. In response to this call to disrupt the dominance of colleges and universities in teacher education, and because of the policies and funding allocations of the U.S. Education Department and private foundation funding, non-university providers of teacher education have proliferated in certain areas of the country. A critical aspect of the current call for greater deregulation and market competition in teacher education has been the declaration that university teacher education has failed. While there is no dispute about the need for improvements in the dominant college and university system of teacher education, it is also important to critically evaluate the warrants for the value of programs that critics claim should replace college and university programs. Purpose The focus of this paper is to illustrate how research has been misrepresented to support policies and programs that would simultaneously reduce the role of colleges and universities in preparing U.S. teachers and support the expansion of the role of non-university providers. We also examine the print news media's role in uncritically reproducing a narrative of failure about university teacher education and promoting the success of new non-university programs—attention that has served to inflate the public perception of these organizations and programs beyond what is warranted by the available evidence. Research Design Four cases are presented that illustrate the efforts to manufacture a narrative of the failure of colleges and universities in preparing teachers, and to construct a narrative of success for the non-university programs that have been funded to replace them. The authors use the concepts of echo chambers and knowledge ventriloquism to show how this process operates. Conclusions/Recommendations Following the presentation of the cases, specific recommendations are offered for raising the quality of the debates about the future of U.S. teacher education. These include greater transparency in the process of reform, better communication between researchers and stakeholders, using research that has been vetted to inform the debates, and genuinely exploring different policy options for teacher education.

Philanthropy as a source of funding for nursing initiatives.

Nurse leaders are challenged with ensuring that research and evidence-based practices are being integrated into clinical care. Initiatives such as the Magnet Recognition Program have helped reinforce the importance of advancing nursing practices to integrate best practices, conduct quality improvement initiatives, improve performance metrics, and involve bedside nurses in conducting research and evidence-based practice projects. While seeking research funding is an option for some initiatives, other strategies such as seeking funding from grateful patients or from philanthropic resources are becoming important options for nurse leaders to pursue, as the availability of funding from traditional sources such as professional organizations or federal funding becomes more limited. In addition, more institutions are seeking and applying for funding, increasing the pool of candidates who are vying for existing funding. Seeking alternative sources of funding, such as through philanthropy, becomes a viable option. This article reviews important considerations in seeking funding from philanthropic sources for nursing initiatives. Examples from a multiyear project that focused on promoting a healthy work environment and improving nursing morale are used to highlight strategies that were used to solicit, obtain, and secure extension funding from private foundation funding to support the initiative.

Addiction Research Centres and the Nurturing of Creativity. RAND's Drug Policy Research Center

In September 1989, amid an emotional and ideological debate regarding problematic drug use in the United States and the 'war on drugs', RAND's Drug Policy Research Center (DPRC) was created through private foundation funds. The purpose of this new research center was to provide objective empirical analysis on which to base sound drug policy. Twenty years later, RAND's DPRC continues its work, drawing on a broad range of analytical expertise to evaluate, compare and assess the effectiveness of a similarly broad range of drug policies. More than 60 affiliated researchers in the United States and Europe make up the Center, which attempts to provide objective empirical analyses to better inform drug policies within the United States and abroad. This paper provides a look back at the creation, evolution and growth of the Center. It then describes how the Center operates today and how it has maintained its clear identity and focus by drawing on the analytical capabilities of a talented group of researchers from a broad range of academic disciplines.

Volunteer Coalition Helps Improve Literacy

Volunteer Coalition Helps Improve Literacy

Innovation, accountability, and independence at three private foundations funding higher education civic engagement, 1995 to 2005

AbstractThis case study looks at changes in private foundation funding for higher education civic engagement from 1995 to 2005. The focus is three large, established foundations that were U.S. national leaders in supporting this activity during these years: Carnegie, Pew, and Kellogg. Data sources include (1) in‐depth conversations with four strategically placed foundation insiders and six nationally recognized campus leaders and (2) scans of Web sites of the three foundations that document the change in funding priorities over time, plus Web sites of the main campus initiatives supported and national campus civic engagement organizations such as Campus Compact. Research findings con‐ firm and specify other studies that suggest that foundations shift their funding priorities according to their perceived role as innovators, pressures to be accountable and show clear results, and their independence as private organizations. The article concludes by raising questions about private foundations generally in relation to issues of innovativeness, accountability, and independence.

Developing and extending sustainable agriculture: a new social contract

Developing and extending sustainable agriculture: a new social contract

Cancers of the prostate, penis, and testicles: epidemiology, prevention, and treatment.

Cancer is a disease that most people fear. Nurses are required to provide information on how to avoid cancer, and, once the diagnosis is made, how to cope with it. Prevention and early detection of the cancers described in this article are in the very early stages of knowledge development, but general health promotion guidance can be offered on how to avoid most cancers (ie, no tobacco use, a high-fiber and low fat diet, exercise, and maintaining a normal weight). Nurses also can advise patients to be screened for colorectal cancer at the appropriate ages and time intervals and to be aware as new developments occur in the scientific base for screenings in the areas of prostate, penile, and testicular cancer. Finally, coping with these forms of cancer often requires the patient to make major lifestyle and psychological changes, especially if surgery in the genital area occurs. Decreased libido, incontinence, and impotence are major complications that can occur with these illnesses. The male cancers described vary tremendously in their prevalence, incidence, mortality, treatment, and survival rates. Within this group, there are remarkably positive outcomes and outcomes much in need of improvement. Penile and testicular cancers are the bright spots in this picture; both are uncommon, and both are eminently treatable. Prostate cancer, on the other hand, is quite common, difficult to screen, difficult to treat without major sexual problems, and yet receives relatively little funding from the NIH. Although as many men die from prostate cancer as women die from breast cancer, NIH funds breast cancer research at much higher levels than prostate cancer. According to the latest data available at the NIH Web site, during the 1990s, the amount of NIH funding varied from four times more for breast cancer (1993) to 2.9 times more in 1999. For fiscal year 2002, NIH is providing $522 million in funding for breast cancer and $278 million for prostate cancer. Private foundation funds for prostate cancer are much smaller than those available for breast cancer. Both types of cancer are extremely important to address, and both should receive adequate research attention. Nurses can advocate for more funding for prostate cancer, from basic science approaches to behavioral science strategies.

Private foundation funding of applied communication research

Communication researchers increasingly have a primed and attentive audience in private foundations. Yet most foundations are quite dissimilar to the types of organizations that we as communication scholars know and understand. Here we discuss private foundation funding for applied communication research, including how funding priorities are set, and how potential grantees may position themselves for foundation funds. In doing so, we focus on five norms that characterize American private foundations and their program staff: (1) social betterment, (2) organizational interdependency, (3) personal commitment, (4) future orientation, and (5) external generalizability. How well you and your proposal match up with these norms will affect your success with private foundations.

Child abuse prevention at report card time

Report Card distribution reportedly triggers an outbreak of child abuse. If we can prevent that outburst of anger at this time by initiating a process of family and community attitudinal change through offering positive parenting techniques and crisis intervention by phone, we would significantly reduce the incidence of physical abuse. The Mayor's Office for Children and Youth and The Baltimore City Commission for Children and Youth developed a school related child abuse prevention campaign which included messages to parents on colorful attractive cards suggesting positive parenting techniques and crisis intervention phone numbers which were distributed with each report card. Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for TV were developed with the same positive parenting message and aired just prior to and during the week of Report Card distribution. Agencies and organizations whose mission is child abuse prevention, mental health treatment and social support participated as well as agencies and organizations involved in tutoring and academic support. All of the 180 schools in Baltimore City used the cards and teachers and administrators reported a change in parental attitude, more parent visits and better communication between teachers and parents. The phone numbers on the cards were used at a significantly higher rate each time the cards came home, some as many as 400 times their normal call rate. After one year of the project, the State's Attorney's Office observed that incidents of known child abuse as a result of a bad report card was down from 90 to two. This project was continued for six years first with state funds and after three years with private foundation funds. At this time, the Baltimore City School System has adopted the program and is distributing the cards. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Private foundation funding of employer‐related disaster relief and emergency hardship programs held violation of chapter 42 rules‐part two

The Nonprofit CounselVolume 16, Issue 10 p. 4-5 Article Private foundation funding of employer-related disaster relief and emergency hardship programs held violation of chapter 42 rules-part two Bruce R. Hopkins, Bruce R. HopkinsSearch for more papers by this author Bruce R. Hopkins, Bruce R. HopkinsSearch for more papers by this author First published: 12 March 2007 https://doi.org/10.1002/npc.3870161005AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume16, Issue10October 1999Pages 4-5 RelatedInformation

Private foundation funding of employer‐related disaster relief and emergency hardship programs held violation of chap. 42 rules‐part one

Private foundation funding of employer‐related disaster relief and emergency hardship programs held violation of chap. 42 rules‐part one

Questions of Balance: Issues Emerging from the Introduction of the Hormonal Implant

The Alan Guttmacher Institute takes a critical look at the practical aspects of obtaining and providing the hormonal implant Norplant in the US service delivery system. It focuses on financial accessibility of the implant and raises questions about the role of service providers in implant counseling and removal. In the US, access to a complete range of contraceptive options usually hinges on income and insurance coverage. Since the initial price of Norplant is high ($365), the public sector cannot assure a full range of methods. The price precludes most low-income women who do not quality for Medicaid from using Norplant. Many people want the price to be reduced, particularly because a private foundation and public funds shouldered much of its development costs. In some cases, the private company and publicly funded contraceptive development organizations have negotiated a price reduction for public sector family planning providers. The current debate over national health care financing must result in coverage of contraceptive services and supplies for all methods. Safeguards must be in place to make sure that women voluntarily choose the implant and continue to use it. Providers need to counsel women about all the risks and benefits of each contraceptive method, potential side effects, and how to obtain financial and clinical access to start, continue, and discontinue method use. Family planning providers need to put as much attention on access to removal as on access to insertion. For example, the initial fee could include the cost of removal. The Population Council and health agencies in California, Florida, and North Carolina provide guidelines for implant provision and on informed and voluntary method choice. Public policy needs to uphold equal access to use and to discontinuation of methods, especially when public funds have been used.

Substance-abuse education in medical school: past, present, and future.

In this article, the author presents an overview of substance-abuse education in U.S. medical schools. In the early 1970s, two nationwide conferences prompted an awareness of the need for improved medical education in substance abuse. The Council on Mental Health and the Committee on Alcohol and Drug Dependency, both of the American Medical Association, presented general guidelines for a curriculum in substance abuse. During the same era, the federal government sponsored a career teacher training program in drug abuse and alcoholism, and private foundation funding supported educational endeavors that resulted in long-term materials for teaching in medical schools. Three current programs that are improving drug-abuse education are described. These developments are good examples of efforts that should be considered for any medical school curriculum. Goals for the future should include some attempt to modify the institutions, both medical schools and hospitals, where patterns leading to physician impairment may develop.