OPERATING PRINCIPLES

Fidelity Investments Chairman Edward C. Johnson 3d and his father, the founder of the company, established the Fidelity Foundation in 1965 with several operating principles in mind. These principles, still current today, guide our decisions and grantmaking.

Strengthening Nonprofit Organizations

The Fidelity Foundation grant program was designed to strengthen the long-term effectiveness of nonprofit institutions. The types of projects we fund, and the way in which we fund them, are specifically intended to help nonprofits build the organizational capabilities they need to better fulfill their missions and serve their constituencies.

Approaching Grants as Investments

We view our philanthropy as an investment — not just of financial resources, but also of our business skills and experience. In considering each proposal, we apply the fundamentals of investing: We carefully examine each aspect of an organization's project idea, management team and financial situation before committing our resources in order to ensure that a grant can achieve tangible results.

Leveraging Resources

We seek to leverage the Foundation's resources wherever possible. Often we do this by offering challenge grants that encourage nonprofits to seek and secure other funding partners. We also help match grants given by other national foundations. We draw on our own business experience by working with grantees to develop performance measures that help determine whether a grant accomplished its intended purpose. As we gain information from projects we've funded, we use it to help inform us on future projects in similar fields. We also utilize our contacts to put present grantees in touch with former grantees that have faced similar issues.

Commitment to Excellence and Innovation

The Foundation's grant program seeks to reflect Fidelity Investments' commitment to quality and continuous improvement. We especially look for projects representing creative and innovative means of advancing an organization or nonprofit sector and strive to remain flexible and opportunistic through a competitive selection process.