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Types of Foundations

Grades: 
9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: 
Philanthropy
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Common Good
Foundations
Inquiry
Perpetuity
Research

Participants learn about different types of foundations and how they work toward improving the common good.

Duration 
PrintOne 50-Minute Session
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • define foundation and distinguish between the types of foundations.
  • identify examples of major gifts given by major foundations
Materials 
  • Foundation Terms (handout below)
Teacher Preparation 

Before meeting, familiarize yourself with foundations in your area. Identify corporate, family, community, and private foundations. Be ready to talk about a well known foundation that provided a grant that impacts the young people. For example, there may be a local museum with funding from a local corporate or family foundation. Be ready to describe what type of foundation it is and what they fund.

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Describe a project of a local foundation, such as a family foundation that gave a grant for an arts program. Invite youth to share what they know about funders in the community.

    Write the term "foundation" and its definition: an organization created from designated funds from which the income is distributed as grants to not-for-profit organizations or, in some cases, to people. Review the young people's prior knowledge by asking them to brainstorm and list on the board various foundations they have heard about or studied. 

  2. Explain to learners that there are many different types of foundations. Distribute Foundation Terms (see handout below) and go over the definitions and discuss examples. 

  3. Put the learners into small groups, and assign one major foundation to each group. Examples: Rockefeller, Carnegie, Ford, Lilly, Kellogg, Kauffman, and Mott. Have the learners research what type of foundation it is, its mission, and what the foundation funds. Have the groups present the information to the class after 20 minutes or on the following day.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 05. Role of Foundations
      1. Benchmark HS.1 Define the term foundation and describe the types of foundations.
      2. Benchmark HS.4 Identify foundations established in perpetuity and major gifts given for the common good from their endowments.