timeline.packard.orgFifty Years of Lasting Change | The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Timeline

Fifty Years of Lasting Change Scroll or click to begin 1964 The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is Born A family’s tradition of giving becomes official. David Packard, one of the founders of the technology company Hewlett-Packard, establishes a family foundation with his wife, Lucile Packard. More Info David Packard, one of the founders of the technology company Hewlett-Packard, establishes a family foundation in partnership with his spouse, Lucile Packard. Already active philanthropists, their foundation receives corporation status in March 1964. The first Foundation Board is comprised of David, Lucile, their son, David Woodley Packard, and an attorney, Nathan Finch. The intention is to add more family members to the enterprise. During the first year, the Foundation awards $10,767.18 for a total of 20 grants. Early grantees, such as the San Francisco Symphony, the Children’s Health Council, and the local YMCA and YWCA—represent what would become long-term interest areas of the Foundation. In 1966, a couple of individual grant commitments are over $75,000 for the first time, including a grant to the national Planned Parenthood for three years. Close 1971 The Foundation’s Interests Take Shape Program areas emerge and Foundation giving increases. In 1971, the Foundation has five defined areas of grantmaking: Conservation and Ecology, Cultural, Education, Health, and Youth and Minority. Just over $100,000 in awards are authorized that year. More Info In 1971, the Foundation has five defined areas of grantmaking: Conservation and Ecology, Cultural, Education, Health, and Youth and Minority. Just over $100,000 in awards are authorized that year. During this year, Lucile Packard is chair of the Foundation Board. (David Packard serves as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1969-1971, and is not on the Foundation Board during this period.) In making these awards at the June Board meeting, Lucile discusses new federal tax provisions which require that a private foundation give the lesser of its actual income or a statutory imputed minimum return on its assets by the end of the year following close of the year of receipt of such income. She states that the Foundation has never in the past confined its grantmaking to the limitations of its income, and that therefore she urges compliance with the future requirements of the law from this year onwards. Close 1975 A Philanthropy Grows Up The Packard Foundation hires staff, opens an office, and expands giving. The Foundation begins to expand operations and staff. Although grantmaking stays aligned with David and Lucile’s interests and values, more staff and space are needed to support a growing body of giving. More Info Ten years into its incorporation, the Foundation needs some staff and office space to support a growing body of giving. In 1975, the Foundation hires a part-time staff person and rents office space at 330 Second Street in downtown Los Altos, California. Prior to this, David and Lucile Packard covered any operating expenses of the Foundation personally. In December 1976, the Foundation hires its first full-time employee. Close 1977 Protecting Open Space in Sprawling Silicon Valley Foundation invests in Peninsula Open Space Trust to protect open space, farms and parkland in fast-growing, expensive Silicon Valley. The Foundation joins with local visionaries to launch the Peninsula Open Space Trust, conserving lands on the San Francisco Peninsula. With the Foundation’s support, the Trust has now protected over 70,000 acres in perpetuity. More Info The Foundation joins with local visionaries to launch the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), conserving lands on the San Francisco Peninsula. With the Foundation’s support, the Trust has now protected over 70,000 acres in perpetuity. POST promotes conservation on private lands, nimbly stepping in when governments cannot. Their vision is to create a network of protected lands that provide beauty, clean air and water, locally grown food and a place for people and wildlife to thrive. As of 2014, the Packard Foundation has invested more than $63 million in POST, supporting their efforts to conserve grasslands, woodlands, beaches and bluffs in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world. Close 1977 Building Community in David Packard’s Childhood Home Pueblo Advisory Board created to anchor lasting community grantmaking where David Packard was born and raised. The Foundation creates the Pueblo Advisory Board to support grantmaking in Pueblo, Colorado, where David Packard was born and raised. As of 2014, nearly $19 million in grants have been made to nonprofits in the area. More Info The Foundation creates the Pueblo Advisory Board to support grantmaking in Pueblo, Colorado, where David Packard was born and raised. As of 2014, nearly $19 million in grants have been made to nonprofits in one of the poorest counties in Colorado. A part of the Foundation’s Local Grantmaking program, the goal of the effort is to support nonprofits that serve residents of Pueblo County. Over the years, more than 50 local residents have helped guide grantmaking focused on education, childcare, youth development, senior services, health and human services, teen pregnancy prevention, nonprofit support services, and arts and culture. Close 1979 Anchor Support for Food Banks in Silicon Valley Foundation begins extended relationship with Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. The Foundation begins its extended relationship with Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, which goes on to become one of the largest food banks in the nation, serving nearly 250,000 people each month. More Info The Foundation begins its extended relationship with Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, which goes on to become one of the largest food banks in the nation, in 2014, serving nearly 250,000 people each month. The investment in Second Harvest starts the Foundation’s long history of support for food banks in the region, which continues to the present. Originally focused on lack of calories, over the years the food bank shifts focus to promoting fresh fruits and vegetables, nutrition education and healthy lifestyles as childhood obesity and diabetes reach epidemic proportions. In 2010, the Foundation makes a one million dollar grant to Second Harvest that helps create a new food distribution facility. This allows Second Harvest to increase the amount of nutritious produce provided to the community, ultimately translating into 18 million additional meals for the Silicon Valley Region. Close 1982 Launching and Supporting Community Foundations to Strengthen Local Areas Local community foundations empowered to create new ways for people to invest in the region. To help people invest in their community, the Foundation provides its first assistance to start a community foundation – this one in Santa Cruz County, which works to make the region a better place to live, now and in the future. More Info To help people invest in their community, the Foundation provides its first assistance to start a community foundation – this one in Santa Cruz County, which works to make the region a better place to live, now and in the future. As of 2014, it manages more than 350 philanthropic funds, awards more than $4 million in grants each year, and provides workshops and resources to hundreds of local organizations. Across the region, the Packard Foundation goes on to nurture growth of several community foundations, including those in Los Altos, Palo Alto, and Monterey, Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Benito Counties. In 2007, the Foundation is one of five area funders that supports the merger efforts that results in the creation of the Silicon Valley community foundation, now one of the largest community foundations in the country. As of 2014, the Foundation has given a total of $46,671,899 over 50 years to community foundations in the five...