Woke Foundations

When the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation switched from supporting the arts and humanities to “prioritizing social justice in all of its grantmaking” this summer, its press release described the shift as a “major strategic evolution” and a “reinvigorated mission.” This doublespeak does not cover up the reality that the foundation’s board has abandoned the intent of its donor. Andrew Mellon, who made his fortune as a banker and an attorney and helped finance some of the largest and longest-lasting corporations in America, donated during his lifetime to the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery of Art, and Carnegie Mellon University. The Mellon Foundation has long been a leader in support of the arts and humanities across the United States.

The Mellon Foundation is hardly alone in abandoning the vision of its founder. Institutions like the Ford, Rockefeller, and MacArthur Foundations long ago rejected their founding ideals—particularly their belief in capitalism—to follow the latest fads in academia and elite culture. The legacies of these industry titans now flow to the coffers of Marxist scholars who cite racial, gender, or environmental reasons for dismantling our system of free enterprise. Donor funds now go to advocacy groups looking to undermine the rule of law and eliminate the governmental and nongovernmental institutions responsible for American freedom and prosperity. Read Full Article »