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Gaither Report: Report of the Study for the Ford Foundation on Policy and Program
If such a defensive attitude is allowed to control our planning
and thinking, our national effort will be diverted unduly to
expedient and temporary measures from the more important tasks
ahead, and we may grow like the thing we fight.
When democracy
is threatened by war we must be prepared to defend it by military
action. But military strength is not enough. We must at the same
time press democracy forward by reaffirming its principles in
action. Without the resulting internal vitality and stability,
national security in the long run is unattainable.
THE ROLE
OF A FOUNDATION
This view of
democracy is one of challenge to a modern foundation. By the
character of its response The Ford Foundation will determine the
degree to which it will help carry toward maturity the modern
concept of philanthropy.
The history of
philanthropy is the record of a continuously evolving philosophy of
giving. At one time the gifts of individuals and benevolent
organizations were intended largely to relieve the suffering of
"the weak, the poor and the unfortunate." Philanthropy was thought
of merely as temporary relief for evil conditions which would
always exist and about which nothing fundamental could be done.
With the establishment of the modern foundation a much greater
concept came into being. The aim is no longer merely to treat
symptoms and temporarily to alleviate distress, but rather to
eradicate the causes of suffering. Nor is the modern foundation
content to concern itself only with man's obvious physical needs;
it seeks rather to help man achieve his entire well-being—to
satisfy his mental, emotional, and spiritual needs as well as his
physical wants. It addresses itself to the whole man and to the
well-being of all mankind.
A foundation
is, by its nature, especially well equipped for this
task.