ABSTRACT
In the 1960s the Ford Foundation, which was by far the largest foundation at that time, drew the bulk of the criticism for its attempts to influence public policy. The Ford Foundation supported many causes that were viewed as left-leaning, and even went so far as to become directly involved in some elections through voter registration drives. The 1969 tax reform was the biggest public policy change ever undertaken with regard to America's non-profit foundations. Ben Franklin bequeathed money to establish charitable foundations in Boston and Philadelphia, in addition to endowing the American Philosophical Society. Foundations are supported by a relatively narrow base of donors while other charitable organizations have a broader base of donors. Foundation operations also tend to be financed from endowments rather than continued donor contributions. The modern era of foundations began early in the twentieth century with the creation of the Carnegie Corporation in 1911 and the Rockefeller Foundation in 1913.
