1997 Annual Report
The Ben & Jerry's Foundation mission is to support and contribute to progressive social change in the United States. By progressive social change we mean efforts to change the underlying conditions that create social problems such as racism, sexism, economic disparity, and environmental destruction. We primarily fund small grassroots organizations and are willing to take risks funding new projects and small organizations struggling to survive.
Each year the Foundation receives for these purposes a portion of Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.'s philanthropic dollars, which amount to 7 1/2% of their pre-tax profits. In 1998 the Foundation gave away $287,000 in 50 grants. The average grant was approximately $5,740. The smallest grant was $500 and the largest grant was $10,000.
The company divides the 7 1/2% pool of funds between the Foundation, employee Community Action Teams (CATs), and Corporate Philanthropy. Each company manufacturing and administrative site in Vermont has an employee CAT, which gives small community service grants (under $1,000) within a specified area of the state. The Foundation grantmaking committee is an all employee team with representatives selected from each CAT.
Our innovative, employee-led grantmaking structure, initiated in 1994, is still going strong. We continue to foster the committee members development as progressive grantmakers by providing opportunities to learn from other funders as well as community activists and trainers. In 1997 some committee members went to southern California on a funders' tour put together by the National Network of Grantmakers, attended the National Organizers Alliance gathering Estes Park, Colorado, and attended the national conference and regional meetings of the National Network of Grantmakers. In addition, the Foundation hosted a presentation for all interested employees by Peter Edelman on poverty and welfare in America. Peter Edelman served as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services until he resigned in protest over President Clinton's signing of the Welfare Reform Bill. We also organized a popular education training for the CAT members put on by Jennifer Henderson of the Center for Community Change.
The Foundation grant application process will remain the same as it always has been. We have a two step process. The first is to submit a Letter of Interest. The Foundation Director and at least one committee member review these letters. On average the Foundation receives over 300 Letters of Interest per quarter. Based on their initial letters, approximately 30 organizations are invited to submit a full proposal.
The full proposals are reviewed by the whole board. Grant decisions are made at quarterly board meetings. Applicants usually hear the funding decisions about ten weeks after they have submitted a full proposal.
Because of the highly selective nature of our grantmaking process, we encourage all potential applicants to review our application guidelines carefully in order to assess the appropriateness of their project for a Ben & Jerry's Foundation grant.
We look forward to another year reviewing exciting and innovative proposals for social change work.