The 21st Century Foundation: Building Upon the Past, Creating for the Future

A ten-page memo on foundation strategy released in early 2004, this paper draws together a variety of themes explored in other, longer papers. Emerson presents what critical aspects of 21st Century philanthropy might entail and argues that there are six core elements of the truly 21st Century Foundation: Asset Alignment; Strategic Grantmaking Practice; Engagement, Transparency, Accountability to Stakeholders; Development and Dissemination of Intellectual Capital; Engagement in Education, Policy Development and Advocacy; and Leverage of Environmental Value.