Founded | 1934 |
---|---|
Founder | Alfred Pritchard Sloan, Jr. |
Focus | Research and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and economic performance |
Location |
|
Method | grantmaking |
Key people
|
Paul L. Joskow |
Endowment | US$1.65 billion |
Employees
|
32 |
Website | sloan.org |
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is an American philanthropic nonprofit organization. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.
The Sloan Foundation makes grants to support original research and broad-based education related to science, technology, and economics aimed at improving the quality of American life. The foundation is an independent entity and has no formal relationship with General Motors. As of December 31, 2011, the Sloan Foundation's assets totaled $1.65 billion.
During the initial years of Alfred P. Sloan’s presidency, the Foundation devoted its resources almost exclusively to education in economics and business. Grants were made to develop materials to improve high school and college economics teaching; for preparation of and wide distribution of inexpensive pamphlets on the pressing economic and social issues of the day; for weekly radio airing of roundtable discussions on current topics in economics and related subjects; and for establishing a Tax Institute at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania to interpret new taxes and new trends in public finance for the average citizen.
Starting in 1950, New York University’s Institute of Economic Affairs received annual grants for projects concerned with educating the public on economics issues, including a series of educational animated short films through Warner Bros. Animation starring Sylvester and Elmer Fudd and directed by Friz Freleng that illustrate basic elements of capitalism. This series includes By Word of Mouse (1954), Heir-Conditioned (1955) and Yankee Dood It (1956).