Name of Foundation: Compton Foundation
Location: San Francisco, California
Contact info: www.comptonfoundation.org Phone: (415) 391-9001
Coverage Area: United States
Subject Area: The foundation keeps their guidelines broad but focuses on peace, environment, reproductive health and rights, social justice, welfare and the Arts.
Assets: $60 Million (2011)
Last Year Total Giving: $4.1 million (2011)
In a nutshell: In 1948, Dorothy Danforth Compton and Randolph P. Compton, an investment banker, created a charitable trust after the death of their son in WWII. The Trust was converted to a Foundation in 1973.
They started the trust to focus on initiatives that addressed peace and to help prevent another world war. They believed that peace could only be achieved if issues that prompted the war were addressed, such as, human rights violations, environmental degradation, and rapid population growth.
Over time, the Trust’s mission expanded to include support for welfare, social justice, and the arts. The foundation recently adopted a new mission statement focusing on transformative leadership and courageous storytelling. The foundation seeks to find institutions and organizations that are supporting leaders who are socially driven and passionate about contributing to positive change. Courageous Storytelling focuses on challenging the status quo and/or giving voice to unheard narratives.
The Foundation currently does all of their grantmaking under their new mission statement and guidelines, that were adopted in 2012.
Today, the Compton family continues to provide leadership to the foundation.
Major Programs:
Transformative Leadership and Courageous Storytelling
How to Apply: Organizations can inquire about funding opportunities through the Foundation’s inquiry form. The Foundation also identifies and invites organizations to apply for funding.
News and Grant Activity:
Youth Related Grant Highlights: 2012/2013