Packard Foundation, one of the world’s largest foundations, donates money to private, nonprofit organizations in the United States and other countries. The foundation’s programs grant aid in the areas of science; conservation; population; children, families, and communities; the arts; and organizational effectiveness and philanthropy. The full name of the foundation is the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
The Packard Foundation’s science program aids ocean science, science education, minorities in science, and science in developing countries. The conservation program helps preserve undeveloped land in California as well as marine resources. The foundation’s population program works to promote family planning in less developed countries. The children, families, and communities program assists families with health care and protection from violence. The arts program helps institutions that teach children the arts. The foundation’s organizational effectiveness and philanthropy program assists nonprofit organizations with leadership training and management. The Packard Foundation also contributes to projects that inform the public about the activities of nonprofit organizations.
David Packard, cofounder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, and his wife, Lucile Salter Packard, established the Packard Foundation in 1964. When David Packard died in 1996, he left most of his Hewlett-Packard stock to the Packard Foundation. The foundation has headquarters in Los Altos, California.