Smith Richardson Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Smith Richardson Foundation is a private foundation
based in Westport, Connecticut
, that supports policy research in the realms of foreign and domestic public policy.
According to the foundation's website, its mission is "to contribute to important public debates and to address serious public policy challenges facing the United States. The Foundation seeks to help ensure the vitality of our social, economic, and governmental institutions. It also seeks to assist with the development of effective policies to compete internationally and to advance U.S. interests and values abroad."
, a firm created by his father, Lunsford Richardson
, into one of the leading over-the-counter drug companies in the world. In later years, Richardson-Vicks also became a major force in the market for prescription drugs as well as a wide range of consumer products. In 1985, the Richardson family sold the company to Procter & Gamble
.
In 1973, R. Randolph Richardson assumed the presidency of the Foundation. Richardson was particularly interested in supporting free-market and pro-democratic causes. During his tenure as president, the Foundation played an important role in supporting think tanks and scholars who were active in public policy debates over issues such as defense policy, tax policy, education reform, and regulation. The Foundation also supported pro-democracy organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Central and South America.
In 1992, Peter L. Richardson, a nephew of R. Randolph Richardson, assumed the presidency of the Foundation, while Heather Higgins
, the daughter of R. Randolph Richardson, became president of the Randolph Foundation
.
and Foreign Policy
Program and the Domestic Public Policy
Program. The Foundation believes that conflict and change in the international environment have created new needs in the U.S. policy community for analysis and guidance on critical foreign and defense policy issues. In the domestic arena, the Foundation believes that policy makers are seeking innovative and pragmatic solutions to the long-term challenges affecting the well being of all Americans.
The International Security and Foreign Policy Program has a number of priority areas of interest. The ongoing instability in key regions and states highlights the need to improve U.S. capabilities in the areas of intelligence
gathering and analysis, public diplomacy
, counterinsurgency, and post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction. The international program has long sought to support projects designed to improve the effectiveness of U.S. military forces through defense transformation
. Geopolitical competition, the uncertain future of economic and political developments in key states such as Russia
, and the increasingly important roles that China
and India
play in international politics require renewed assessments of how best to deploy U.S. resources in order to achieve strategic objectives around the globe. The Foundation also seeks to support projects on key transnational issues such as proliferation, terrorism
, democratization
, and global political change. Within the academic community, the international program supports policy-relevant strategic studies
and underwrites historical research with implications or lessons for current policy.
, fiscal
, and tax policy
. The Foundation has sought to identify strategies to lift the performance of U.S. schools through its support of work on incentive programs for students and performance pay for teachers. The Foundation has also embarked on an effort to develop strategies to improve the performance of public agencies through the effective use of government-led networks and the strengthening of the capacity of the public-sector workforce. The Foundation continues to provide support for projects that examine the effectiveness of our regulatory policies, explore the interaction between the policy making and the political processes, and evaluate the effectiveness of policies designed to assist disadvantaged families.
SRF has awarded grants to major think tanks and university research centers. Some of the foundation's major grantees include the following:
Officers
Private foundation (United States)
A private foundation is a charitable organization recognized by the US Tax Code at and section 501. It is defined by a negative definition, in other words, it is defined by what it is not...
based in Westport, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
, that supports policy research in the realms of foreign and domestic public policy.
According to the foundation's website, its mission is "to contribute to important public debates and to address serious public policy challenges facing the United States. The Foundation seeks to help ensure the vitality of our social, economic, and governmental institutions. It also seeks to assist with the development of effective policies to compete internationally and to advance U.S. interests and values abroad."
History
The Smith Richardson Foundation was established in 1935 by H. Smith Richardson, Sr., and his wife Grace Jones Richardson. Richardson transformed the Vicks Chemical CompanyVicks
Vicks is a line of over-the-counter medications owned by the American company Procter & Gamble. Vicks manufactures NyQuil and its sister medication, DayQuil. The Vicks brand also produces Formula 44 cough medicines, cough drops, VapoRub, and a number of inhaled breathing treatments...
, a firm created by his father, Lunsford Richardson
Lunsford Richardson
Lunsford Richardson , 1854-1919, was a U.S. pharmacist from Selma, North Carolina, and the founder of Vick Chemical Company . He died August 20, 1919.-Early life:...
, into one of the leading over-the-counter drug companies in the world. In later years, Richardson-Vicks also became a major force in the market for prescription drugs as well as a wide range of consumer products. In 1985, the Richardson family sold the company to Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
.
In 1973, R. Randolph Richardson assumed the presidency of the Foundation. Richardson was particularly interested in supporting free-market and pro-democratic causes. During his tenure as president, the Foundation played an important role in supporting think tanks and scholars who were active in public policy debates over issues such as defense policy, tax policy, education reform, and regulation. The Foundation also supported pro-democracy organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Central and South America.
In 1992, Peter L. Richardson, a nephew of R. Randolph Richardson, assumed the presidency of the Foundation, while Heather Higgins
Heather Higgins
Heather Richardson Higgins is an American businesswoman, political commentator and non-profit sector executive. She is the president and CEO of Independent Women's Voice, the 501 sister organization of the Independent Women's Forum....
, the daughter of R. Randolph Richardson, became president of the Randolph Foundation
Randolph Foundation
The Randolph Foundation is a New York-based charitable foundation that first operated in 1972 as the H. Smith Richardson Charitable Trust. It transitioned to independence from the Smith Richardson Foundation, assuming the name of The Randolph Foundation from 1991–1993, and was reconstituted as a...
.
Current programs
The Foundation advances its mission through its two principal grant making programs: the International SecurityInternational security
International security consists of the measures taken by nations and international organizations, such as the United Nations, to ensure mutual survival and safety. These measures include military action and diplomatic agreements such as treaties and conventions. International and national security...
and Foreign Policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
Program and the Domestic Public Policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
Program. The Foundation believes that conflict and change in the international environment have created new needs in the U.S. policy community for analysis and guidance on critical foreign and defense policy issues. In the domestic arena, the Foundation believes that policy makers are seeking innovative and pragmatic solutions to the long-term challenges affecting the well being of all Americans.
International Security and Foreign Policy Program
According to the foundation's website: "The objective of the International Security and Foreign Policy Program is to assist the U.S. policy community in developing effective national security strategies and foreign policies. The Foundation is committed to supporting projects that help the policy community face the fundamental challenge of ensuring the security of the United States, protecting and promoting American interests and values abroad, and enhancing international order."The International Security and Foreign Policy Program has a number of priority areas of interest. The ongoing instability in key regions and states highlights the need to improve U.S. capabilities in the areas of intelligence
Intelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
gathering and analysis, public diplomacy
Public diplomacy
In international relations, public diplomacy or people's diplomacy, broadly speaking, is the communication with foreign publics to establish a dialogue designed to inform and influence. There is no one definition of Public Diplomacy, and may be easier described than easily defined as definitions...
, counterinsurgency, and post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction. The international program has long sought to support projects designed to improve the effectiveness of U.S. military forces through defense transformation
Revolution in Military Affairs
The military concept of Revolution in Military Affairs is a theory about the future of warfare, often connected to technological and organizational recommendations for change in the United States military and others....
. Geopolitical competition, the uncertain future of economic and political developments in key states such as Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and the increasingly important roles that China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
play in international politics require renewed assessments of how best to deploy U.S. resources in order to achieve strategic objectives around the globe. The Foundation also seeks to support projects on key transnational issues such as proliferation, terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, democratization
Democratization
Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic...
, and global political change. Within the academic community, the international program supports policy-relevant strategic studies
Strategic studies
Strategic studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to topics concerning the relationship between politics, geography and natural resources, economics, and military power, such as the role of intelligence, diplomacy and threats in the preparation and use of force...
and underwrites historical research with implications or lessons for current policy.
Domestic Public Policy Program
The Domestic Public Policy Program supports projects that will help the public and policy makers understand and address critical challenges facing the United States. To that end, the Foundation supports research on and evaluation of existing public policies and programs, as well as projects that inject new ideas into public debates. The Foundation is interested in a wide range of topics. The Foundation has supported work designed to strengthen the foundations of U.S. economic growth by examining critical issues in monetaryMonetary policy
Monetary policy is the process by which the monetary authority of a country controls the supply of money, often targeting a rate of interest for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability. The official goals usually include relatively stable prices and low unemployment...
, fiscal
Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy....
, and tax policy
Tax policy
Tax policy is the government's approach to taxation, both from the practical and normative side of the question.-Philosophy:Policymakers debate the nature of the tax structure they plan to implement and how they might affect individuals and businesses .The reason for such foitution effect]],...
. The Foundation has sought to identify strategies to lift the performance of U.S. schools through its support of work on incentive programs for students and performance pay for teachers. The Foundation has also embarked on an effort to develop strategies to improve the performance of public agencies through the effective use of government-led networks and the strengthening of the capacity of the public-sector workforce. The Foundation continues to provide support for projects that examine the effectiveness of our regulatory policies, explore the interaction between the policy making and the political processes, and evaluate the effectiveness of policies designed to assist disadvantaged families.
Assets and grant making
At the end of 2007, the foundation had assets totaling $827,299,927. During that year, it awarded grants totaling $23,527,872.SRF has awarded grants to major think tanks and university research centers. Some of the foundation's major grantees include the following:
- American Enterprise InstituteAmerican Enterprise InstituteThe American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
- Brookings InstitutionBrookings InstitutionThe Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
- Center for Strategic and Budgetary AssessmentsCenter for Strategic and Budgetary AssessmentsThe Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments is an independent, non-profit, Washington, D.C.-based think tank specializing in US defense policy, force planning, and budgets. It is headed by Andrew Krepinevich, a West Point graduate...
- Center for Strategic and International StudiesCenter for Strategic and International StudiesThe Center for Strategic and International Studies is a bipartisan Washington, D.C., foreign policy think tank. The center was founded in 1962 by Admiral Arleigh Burke and Ambassador David Manker Abshire, originally as part of Georgetown University...
- Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign RelationsThe Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
- Freedom HouseFreedom HouseFreedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
- Hudson InstituteHudson InstituteThe Hudson Institute is an American think tank founded in 1961, in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, by futurist, military strategist, and systems theorist Herman Kahn and his colleagues at the RAND Corporation...
- National Institute for Public Policy
- Nonproliferation Policy Education CenterNonproliferation Policy Education CenterThe Nonproliferation Policy Education Center is a not-for-profit organization that is based in Washington, D.C., and was founded in 1994 to promote a better understanding of strategic weapons proliferation issues among policymakers, scholars and the media.Henry D. Sokolski is the executive...
- Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins
- Pepperdine UniversityPepperdine UniversityPepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
- RAND Corporation
- Urban InstituteUrban InstituteThe Urban Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that carries out nonpartisan economic and social policy research, collects data, evaluates social programs, educates the public on key domestic issues, and provides advice and technical assistance to developing governments abroad...
Trustees and officers
Trustees- Peter L. Richardson, Chairman of the Board
- W. Winburne King III
- Arvid R. Nelson
- Adele Richardson Ray
- Lunsford Richardson, Jr.
- Stuart S. Richardson
- E. William Stetson IIIBill StetsonBill Stetson is an American businessman, film producer and environmental policy advisor to numerous entrepreneurial, not-for-profit and political organizations.- Family :...
Officers
- Peter L. Richardson, President, Chairman of the Board
- Marin Strmecki, Senior Vice President, Director of Programs
- W. Winburne King III, General Counsel
- Ross F. Hemphill, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
- Arvid R. Nelson, Secretary
- Karla W. Frank, Assistant Secretary