Our Founding Story

Anita McCormick Blaine—heir to the McCormick fortune—used her wealth to advance education, civil rights, labor organizing, and international peace. A bold philanthropist, she founded the New World Foundation in 1954 to support democratic participation and justice for all. From desegregation in the South to education reform and the peace movement, Anita’s vision centered on equity, dignity, and civic responsibility.

“[So that] All people might live in amity, and in recognition of their responsibility toward one another.”
—Anita McCormick Blaine

In the decades following Anita’s death, her granddaughter Anne Blaine Harrison and a new generation of justice advocates led the Foundation to champion grassroots movements across race, class, and geography. The New World Foundation supported civil rights groups like SNCC and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, backed Cesar Chavez and ACT UP early on, and pioneered funding for youth and environmental organizing. We shifted power by funding organizing—not just institutions—and inviting grassroots leaders to the boardroom. This period also marked a family-driven transition from a private family foundation to a public charity.

During this period, NWF deepened its focus on movement infrastructure—supporting grassroots organizers, young leaders, and national coalitions. Our New Majority Fund, Phoenix Fund and Civic Opportunities Initiative Network (COIN) expanded our reach into the democracy, economic, climate, and civic justice spaces. NWF continues to fund local organizing, build power in marginalized communities, and support the next generation of leaders driving systemic change.

The current moment calls for a recalibration of how philanthropy and the field analyses and implements a path to a just and caring world. Many past achievements have been eroded, dismantled and weakened. What remains cannot be taken for granted and we are committed to working with allies to forge a path toward a more equitable and just society. The next phase requires all of us to be open, creative, collaborative, and nimble in our approach and with each other.