The Bulletin of News and Notes Related to THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FUND-RAISING COUNSEL - Volume 6 - Number 1

Sep 21, 2026

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Compilation of periodical bulletin content for the American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel, focusing on American philanthropy in 1959 and expectations for 1960. The text reports growth in total giving, with notable increases in foundation resources, religious, educational, and health-and-welfare contributions, alongside federated giving through United Funds and Community Chests. It also discusses inflation as a counterbalance and highlights specific foundation and corporate gifts and the “right to give” upheld by law.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

AMERICAN PHILANTHROPY IN 1959

AND THE PROSPECT FOR 1960

THE RIGHT TO GIVE

for HEALTH and WELFARE

A Compilation # The Bulletin of News and Notes Related to # of THE AMERICAN ASS OCIATION 0F FUND-RAISING C0UNSEL AN 7,90 # Fund-Raising VOLU ME 6 J anu ary 4,1960 NUM BER 1 QUOTE "'History repeats itself'and 'history never repeats itself'are about equallytrue.....We never know enough about the infinitely complex circumstances ofany past event to prophe sy the future by analogy.....G.M.Trevelyan. ## AMERICAN PHILANTHROPY IN 1959 reached new heights.On basis of data available at year end it appears total philanthropy was well in excess of $7.5billion,as compared with $7.1 billion estimated at 1958 year end. An outstanding feature of the year was a notable increase in resources offoundations.Several extraordinary beque sts to philanthropic foundations weremade during the year。When the estates,which include such bequests,arefinally settled,as much as $1 billion may be added to the total re source s offoundations for future philanthropic grants. Religious giving in 1959,for all faiths,is estimated at $3.9 billion compared with $3.6 billion in 1958,the increase nearly paralleling the population rise. Educational giving appears to have had greater increase than any other classifica-tion of philanthropy.Giving for all education,including gifts in kind,apparentlyexceeded $1 billion.The American Alumni Council Survey of 610 institutions ofhigher education showed an increase in al umni giving of 34.9 per cent,while asurvey by the Council For Financial Aid to Education indicated a 23.5 per centincrease in corporate giving to education. Health and welfare contributions appeared to be running some five per cent aheadof last year. Federated giving through United Funds and Community Chests is expected to reach$455 million as compared with $427 million last year. is increasing the value of foundationassets and the resources available for philanthropic purposes,according toindications in the 1958 report of Rockefeller Foundation which was establishedin 1913 with $180 million in gifts.Since 1913,the foundation has spent orcommitted $637 million,and since 1956,has drained its capital at the rate of$5 million a year.Neve rtheless,at the end of 1958 the foundation's totalassets were $578,661,640,more than three times the total of the original fund.The Rockefeller Foundation grants in 1958 totaled $31,592,157,almost $9million more than its income.The largest appropriations went to programs foragriculture and medical and biological research.Capital funds were used toexpand programs in Latin America,Africa,the Middle East and Asia. Similar increase in resources arising out of industrial growth is.indi-cated in the Ford Foundation,which in its last report showed among its assets 36,132,239 shares of Ford Motor Company Class A stock,then estimated tohave a value of $1,689,200,000.During recent months,the Ford Foundationsold 2 million of these shares at $82 a share for $164 million.At this level,it would appear that the remaining 34 million shares of stock held by the founda-tion would have a value exceeding the $1,918,300,000 reported as its approxi-mate net worth at the end of 1958. Against these increases in resources for philanthropy must be balancedaccompanying inflation. ## AND THE PROSPECT FOR 1960 indicates conditions favorable to continuedgrowth in philanthropy.Economists appe ar in general agreement that production,income,employment and probably prices will increase,with a consequent up-ward trend in disposable income.Should gross national product reach $500billion in 1960,it is reasonable to expect the total of philanthropy to pass $8billion. ## THE RIGHT TO GIVE by a public utility,both in time and money,was upheldby the Illinois Commerce Commission. A $290,000 gift to the Community Fund-Red Cross Crusade of Mercyby the Illinois Bell Telephone Company was challenged. I'It seems to usl said the Commission,....'that no objection mayproperly be made to support by business corporations of wort

FAQs

What were the key indicators of philanthropy growth in 1959?

Total philanthropy exceeded $7.5 billion versus about $7.1 billion at the end of 1958, with notable increases in foundation resources and multiple categories of giving.

How did the bulletin describe the outlook for 1960?

It states that economic conditions were expected to support continued growth in philanthropy, with forecasts tied to rising production, income, employment, and disposable income.

What does the bulletin say about the legal “right to give”?

It describes a decision upholding business corporate support for worthy philanthropic objectives, noting benefits to utilities and broad acceptance by the public and law.

Sep 21, 2026

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