Special Award: Community Foundation Network/Beacon Award for Services to UK Community Philanthropy

The award marks White’s personal commitment to philanthropy, his visionary and strategic approach through the foundation’s investment in and development of philanthropy infrastructure, particularly in the UK. The award also acknowledges the Mott Foundation’s 20 years of sustained financial support to CFN and to the movement as a whole – which has been close to £4 m. Mott support has been one of the major drivers of community philanthropy in the UK, says CFN.

White joined the Mott Foundation in 1969, became its president in 1976, and assumed the role of chairman in 1988.

In making the award, Stephen Hammersley, chief executive of CFN, says: “Bill White and the Mott Foundation’s support have been fundamental to the building of our network of community foundations that now covers the whole of the UK and through which more than £0.5bn has been granted to grass roots charities in support of UK communities.

“Further, this award acknowledges the creative and imaginative approach to leveraging new money into communities which Bill has inspired through his support of the first community endowment challenge programme of the 1990’s.

The CAF/Mott Endowment Challenge Programme saw a £1m investment grow to £6m at three community foundations. The model of this early challenge was influential in the establishment of the UK government’s £50m Grassroots Grants Endowment Challenge Programme which is scheduled to catalyse another £50m in support of local communities by the end of 2011.

Hammersley adds: “While the Mott Foundation’s funding has been crucial to CFN’s work, Bill’s personal support - his advice and counsel, his provision of technical support and consultants to us and our members, and his willingness to advocate and be a voice for community philanthropy on numerous occasions has provided immeasurable value. We wouldn’t be where we are today without this long-standing and consistent support and we thank him for that.”

Commenting on the Award win, White says: “I am delighted to be a part of the Beacon Prize celebration and to be included with those who are being honoured for contributing to the betterment of their community. As long-time supporters of community foundations both at home and abroad, we well understand how they not only can provide financial resources to local charities, but also can establish partnerships, foster collaborations, nurture vitality and build endowments in ways that benefit communities for the long term. In fact, I’m hard-pressed to think of a better vehicle than a community foundation to channel an individual’s charitable impulse for the common good.”

Read our exclusive interview with William S. White: Making connections, building communities