# Foundation Center creates new Alexis Institute for Civil Society and Philanthropy - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/05/17/foundation-center-creates-new-alexis-institute-civil-society-and-philanthropy/ - Published: 2006-05-17T23:00:00+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake The New York-based Foundation Center is to set up the Alexis Institute for Civil Society and Philanthropy, designed to serve as a major source of knowledge on philanthropy and civil society in the U.S. and around the world. The founding directory of the institute will be Lester M. Salamon, Professor and Director of the Center for Civil Society Studies at Johns Hopkins University. The Foundation Center’s Board and staff have committed to raising an initial $10 million for the institute as part of a broader campaign. Foundation Center President Sara L. Engelhardt said: “The Alexis Institute is the keystone to our plan to transform the nation’s pre-eminent information resource on U.S. foundations and their grantmaking into a knowledge center on the broader field of philanthropy and civil society worldwide.” ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) The Foundation Center, set up in 1956, maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and their grants, which it has made available online since 1995. More than 37,000 people visit its web site each day. It also operates research, education, and training programmess designed to advance philanthropy at every level, and runs five regional library/learning centres together with its national network of nearly 250 Cooperating Collections. * **[Nationwide Life to donate £1 to Macmillan for every protection policy sold for three months](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/05/18/nationwide-life-donate-1-macmillan-every-protection-policy-sold-three-months/)**( 18 May 2006) * **[Jeans for Genes to set up as independent charity](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/05/23/jeans-genes-set-independent-charity/)**( 23 May 2006) * **[Canine Partners launches £5 a month gift appeal](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/05/25/canine-partners-launches-5-month-gift-appeal/)**( 25 May 2006)