.L REPORT FOR THE CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION HE G R E A '**^&d«flC> &1&f 64+lsfr OUR FOUNDER 2 FINANCE 65 OUR PHILOSOPHY 3 OTHER INFORMATION 79 ANNUAL MESSAGE 4 HOW TO APPLY FOR A GRANT 80 THE GREAT LAKES: 8 PUBLICATIONS 81 A STEWARDSHIP LEFTUNTENDED OFFICERS AND STAFF 82 GRANTS.. ..27 INDIA ..83 THE GREAT LAKES: A STEWARDSHIP LEFT UNTENDED MM/tov \i/>/Ui'iiltilt Lake H n r o 11 Lake Superior i;(. ,„„„•/;,,,, • I ..i-,,wff. U.I.IC.P.I 9 h-\ /I'NT ' and "viiithi-i n l.iim /!"! (hii-ijf> Ilit'i Lake v».vi,.,,i( Michigan Mihiitukir l:\litttr\ • Lake Ontario lt«nta),'wit lliiiiii.i t,i,i-t,t t •il'iin.'i Kavrntxl liulniiHilliliha \ln/- (M«I! Lake Erie rurfi/-fri'o loxic liuhpots line flic shores of the five interconnected Grcal Lakes. Olir Charles Stewart Mott, who established this Foundation in RmntlCJ' 1926, was deeply concerned from his earliest years in Flint with the welfare of his adopted community. Soon after he had become one of the city's leading industrialists, this General Motors pioneer found a practical and successful way to express his interest. He served two years as mayor (1912-13) during a period when the swiftly growing city was beset with municipai problems, with 40,000 people sharing facilities adequate for 10,000. As a private citizen, he started a medical and dental clinic for children and helped establish the YMCA and the Boy Scouts in Flint along with the Whaley Children's Center. Nine years after the Foundation was incorporated for philanthropic, charitable and educational purposes, it became a major factor in the life of Flint through organized schoolground recreational activities, which developed into the nationwide community education program. From this start, the Foundation's major concern has been the well-being of the community: the individual, the family, the neighborhood, the systems of Charles Stovart Mott government. This interest has continued to find expression in Flint and also has 1875-1973 taken us far beyond our home city. This report deals with the avenues that we explored in 1988 while mindful of the founder's motto: "Let us be known by our deeds, and not by our money." / w Memoriam diaries Steuxirt Harding Mott 1906-1989 On May 10,1989, as this report was Simply put, this was a man who enroute to the printer, we received word cared about others. A humble man, he that Matt Foundation Chairman inspired, encouraged and by example Emeritus Charles Stewart Harding Matt challenged and taught countless died in Florida. The beloved community numbers of persons in all walks of leader was 82. life. He was never without a kind word for everyone. In our offices, he An integral part of the Foundation brought a sense of good cheer and joy since its creation in 1926 by his father, to our experience and his sense of industrialist Charles Stewart Mott, humor was legendary. Harding provided quiet leadership and foresight which helped guide the One could count on receiving Foundation for more than 63 years. common sense wisdom, advice and counsel from him. In his He was a charter trustee of the Mott openmindedness, he encouraged Foundation and was successively risk-taking, and he forgave mistakes named to every key Foundation post easily, asking only that you learn including chairman. He served as from them. chairman from 1976 until last year when he was named chairman emeritus. There are many anecdotes to relate about Harding some of the best Harding will be remembered for many coming from Harding himself during things, not of least of which include the 30 years he shared an office with persuading his father to give the bulk of his father, whom he revered. his fortune to the Foundation in 1963 and overseeing internal development While Charles Stewart Mott may have which has positioned the Foundation stood in the limelight, Charles Stewart for long-term growth. Further, he played Harding Mott practiced quiet diplomacy, a key role in the development of leaving behind contributions and community education nationwide, and legacies equal in importance and is well known to the Flint-area endurability. It is little wonder that community for many major projects and words such as humanity and humility his personal philanthropy are so fitting in remembering his grand spirit. But beyond these and other important benchmarks, Harding will be No man, it is said, is indispensable. remembered for something far greater in A few men, however, cannot be the scheme of life, that is his very forgotten. Harding Mott is one of evident love of life and mankind. these. We all will miss him. Oltf The Charles Stewart Mott foundation is a private foundation PhilQSQUhl/ supporting programs across the United States and, on a limited basis, internationally. Its purpose is to identify, demonstrate, support, test and disseminate principles that, in application, strengthen and enrich the quality of life of individuals and their communities. Learning how people can most effectively live together, making the concept of community a practical reality, is one of the fundamental needs of humanity — particularly in a world marked by social and political conflict, rapidly changing technology, disproportionate allocation of resources, and a growing realization of the limits of a sustainable environment. The Foundation has long been interested and involved in improving the quality of life at the local level, using the processes of education, social welfare, economic development and environmental management. From its beginnings in Flint, Michigan, the Foundation has extended this concern with local problems to cities and towns in other parts of the country. The neighborhood or local community level is still a major concern. However, given the complexity of the world and the interrelatedness of its problems, the Foundation has broadened its concept of community to encompass the state, regional, national and, where appropriate, international levels. The purpose and values of the Foundation are embodied In four philosophical principles, which together provide an appropriate framework for the direction of our resources and grant making: • Opportunity for the Individual • Partnership with the Community • Effective Functioning of Community Systems • Leadership as the Mobilizer Specifically, Foundation grantmaking is organized under six Trustee- approved program missions: • Education: Developing Human Potential • Environment • Flint Area • Neighborhoods and Economic Development • Philanthropy and Volunteerism • Exploratory and Special Projects The missions, in turn, are presently divided into program areas approved by the Board of Trustees, (A breakdown of the missions and program areas can be found on page 27. Descriptions of each are included in the grants listing.) The program areas are the primary arenas for planning and carrying out the Foundation's grantmaking. While all of the program areas are important, at any given time some may have higher priority than others. These relative priorities are reassessed by the Trustees at least twice a year through annual mission reviews and the regular budget process. This year, I would like to devote and the entire nation. In fact, we are this space to comments on three learning that access to a virtually items: 1) the special section on Great unlimited supply of fresh water is Lakes regional land and water issues one of our primary strengths. that follows this message; 2) our Those of us who live in Michigan, prograK""6" m in support of the nation's moreover, well remember the historically and predomi- mid-TOs, when a major PBB nantly black colleges; and contamination ended up in the 3) planning an agenda for the state's food chain and affected 21st Century. In addition, I everyone living here. We read daily Annual-™ f have includein d a few remarks in our newspapers about fish regarding the admin- advisories, deformed birds, polluted istrative and financial streams, and depleted wetlands, and details of the year we are painfully aware mat Michigan Message is one of the nation's leading states in the generation of toxic wastes and Great Lakes ™s Amual number of major toxic dumps. R&iOMl Land ^continues With such ever-present reminders our tradition ot all about us, we determined that our focusing a special environmental programming should section upon one of our major be not only national, but also program interests — in this case, targeted upon what is occurring at Great Lakes Regional Land and home in the Great Lakes region. Water Resources, one of three major After all, if one is going to march program areas in the Foundation's around the country and the world Environment Mission. The others preaching environmental reform, it are Toxic Substances and Global seems only appropriate that we Sustainability, and under Special address these issues at home. Initiatives we fund some programs I would like to reemphasize a that do not fall clearly within these point I made last year in our report three major areas. Last year, you will on toxic pollution. The environmental remember, we devoted our Annual problems facing the world are Report to issues of the nation's toxic extremely complex, and it is wastes. increasingly important for business, The special section this year gives community people, governmental the flavor and tells the story of our leaders, environmentalists and programming in support of the scientists to join together to seek Great Lakes. It contains four responsible and economic solutions. sections: an overview of the Unfortunately, in many cases, problems of the lakes; a description communities, environmentalists and of the lakes as a shared resource; an industry see each other as adver- explanation of the Foundation's grant saries. This year's report shows the program; and a call for cooperation tendency for groups to draw such among funders, businesses, lines.