When Salt Lake City's Guadalupe Schools needed $150,000 to renovate the old Bishop Glass school building last year, it turned to a Utah-based charitable group that has quietly increased its contributions to local causes more than 12 fold over the past decade.
The George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation came through with the renovation funding, a grant that Guadalupe Schools director of development Fredrica Nebeker says allowed Guadalupe to make the most dramatic changes in its education program for underprivileged children and adults in 20 years."The George Eccles Foundation? Where would any of us be without it?" Nebeker asked. "We are a relatively small program, but the foundation has taken a personal interest in us. They don't just hand out money, they've been on site here many times, informing themselves about what we do. They are on a mission to benefit mankind on a very personal level."
Guadalupe Schools is one of some 175 beneficiaries of the foundation launched 30 years ago by the late George S. Eccles, former chairman and president of First Security Corp., and his wife Dolores, founding trustee and a member today of the foundation board.
The foundation has accelerated its work at an astonishing rate over the past 10 years. It will soon issue its first public report that will show the Eccles Foundation donated more than $30 million from 1982 to 1991 to some 175 different beneficiaries in four categories: arts, community, education and medicine.
"Our decade report seeks, first, to honor the vision and generosity of George and Lolie Eccles, lifelong members of our community, whose lives touched and helped so many," said former University of Utah President David P. Gardner, foundation chairman.
"Second, (we want) to recognize the outstanding service rendered by the many nonprofit organizations helping the people of our area. And third, (we want) to provide a historical record of the role played by the foundation in helping to improve the quality of life for all peoples living in this region of the country."
Gardner said the officers and directors of the foundation hope the report will "inspire others to increase their already generous support of the many organizations and institutions whose efforts help shape and improve the character and uniqueness of our communities."
In addition to Gardner and Dolores Eccles, the foundation officers include Spencer F. Eccles, chairman of First Security Corp. and foundation president; Alonzo W. Watson Jr., secretary; Lisa Eccles, executive assistant to the chairman; and Robert M. Graham, treasurer.
The roots of the foundation begin in 1925 when George and Dolores Eccles - they had met as undergraduates at Columbia University in New York - were married. Although they had no children of their own, Spence Eccles notes that they cared deeply for the people of the Intermountain West and especially of Utah.
"They viewed the people of the Intermountain West as their extended family and this foundation is their living memorial that can help make a difference to peoples' lives for years to come," Eccles said.
Eccles noted that the wellsprings of the foundation go back to David Eccles, George's father and his grandfather. "Utah and the free enterprise system gave David Eccles and his family the opportunity for the American dream to come true," he said. "Through the foundation, George and Lolie's sharing with Utah will go on in perpetuity."
George Eccles died Jan. 20, 1982, but Dolores still attends every foundation director's meeting.
"Her devotion to important causes continues to inspire the directors' decision as they serve in the Eccles tradition of giving - finding innovative solutions that make a lasting difference in the arts, the community, education and medicine," Gardner said.
Gardner said the directors try to avoid having any group or program become dependent on the foundation for its survival. "The foundation wants to be there to fund specific needs or expand a program, but it doesn't want to be the lifeblood of any organization's financial health," Gardner said.
Financially, the foundation has prospered over the past 10 years. Although it received some funding prior to George Eccles' death in 1982, the majority has occurred since that time.
From 1982 through 1991, according to foundation treasurer Graham, funding received by the foundation from the George Eccles estate totaled $156.35 million. During the same period, annual income from dividends and interest increased from $488,282 in 1982 to $6.25 million in 1991, all of which was distributed in the various grants and donations.Based on market values last Dec. 31, the foundation's net worth was $207.04 million.
"And the best is yet to come," stressed Spence Eccles, noting that infusions from the estate into the foundation will continue.
Eccles said the foundation is a catalyst for change, but "we don't have to be out there first. We want to join with other leaders where we can. We use challenge grants and matching funds whenever we can in order to increase the impact of our funds."
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(Additional information - article 1)
Assessment criteria
Here are some of the elements the Foundation looks for in making grants:
-Outstanding instititions and organizations with a history of achievemtn, effectiveness and good management.
-Programs and projects that promote self-sufficiency rather than continuing dependence on the support of the Foundation.
-Institutions demonstrating current sound financial conditions (supported by current and full, certified audited financial statements.)
-Organizations that make a distinctive contribution to the community, without inappropriately duplicating other similar services already in place.
-Significant projects with the potential to achieve a measurable impact in the area for which support is being sought.
-Programs that are consistent with the Foundation's identified fields of interest: the arts, the community, education and medicine.
-Proposals focused principally within Utah.
-Programs or projects that the applicant considers to be a high priority in enabling the organization to carry out is primary objective in the community.
Limits and restrictions
The foundation will not consider funding for:
-Organizations that have not received permanent tax-exempt status from the federal government (501-C3) as well as a state exemption, if applicable.
-Routine and recurring operating costs.
-General endowment funds.
-Direct aid to individuals.
-Any organization of a political nature that attempts to influence legislation and/or candidacy of persons for elected public office.
-Conduit organizations, unified funds or organizations that use funds granted to support other organizations.
-Conferences, seminars or research.
-Govermental or quasi-governmental entities or activities other than colleges or universities.
-Request that do not fall within the Foundation's specified areas of interest.