Freedom Funders: Philanthropy and the Civil Rights Movement, 1955-1965
by Sean Dobson
June 2014
As we mark the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, we examine the four foundations that played a critical, but often-overlooked, role in its passage. By supporting the leadership organizations of the Civil Rights Movement in the period from 1955-1965, The Field Foundation, The New World Foundation, The Stern Family Fund and the Taconic Foundation earned the moniker "Freedom Funders."
Their stories serves as a lesson and inspiration for contemporary philanthropists seeking to address the pressing social justice issues of our time, such as ending discrimination and environmental injustice, securing a living wage and protecting voting rights.
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