Good ideas often gather their own momentum. So it is that the idea of psychoanalytic foundations is catching on in nineteen major metropolitan areas where there are societies, institutes, and study groups. Some of these societies and institutes, their foundations not yet formally established, have nonetheless found creative ways of carrying out many of a foundation's functions. In March The American's Committee on Foundations held its second annual workshop to discuss these innovative strategies and other issues of foundation development.
Representatives of twenty-four analytic groups from around the country gathered in Dana Point, California, to hear from financial experts on foundations and to learn from one another. The hospitality of Nadine and Jerry Levinson set a warm tone for the weekend gathering. Somehow even in March they arranged for a balmy California evening as backdrop to a welcoming dinner party at their oceanside home. Throughout the weekend the arrangements, including transportation of the group to dinners and whale watch cruises, were handled flawlessly by the Levinsons and their staff.
The program at the Dana Point Resort began with a presentation by Harold Kulish, president of the Michigan Psychoanalytic Foundation, and Kathleen Kunchel, its administrator. They showed a video project the foundation developed to promote psychoanalysis in the community. The video detailed the many ways psychoanalysis provides pro bono services to community organizations and schools. Representatives of the Michigan Institute discussed its annual Gala Benefit Fund Raiser, now in its seventh year and growing ever more successful.
Presentations were heard also from Barbara and Bert Weller, experts on board development with the Executive Service Corps in Chicago, and from William Findlay of Portland, Oregon, a financial planner and expert on nonprofit boards.
The Wellers addressed the complex issues involved in putting together a foundation board composed of both analysts and community members, while Findlay offered compelling examples of the benefits of long-term planned giving and the creation of asset vehicles.
Following the presentations, those in attendance gathered in small groups tailored to particular needs. The final wrap-up was a discussion, led by Murray Charlson of Philadelphia, on the psychology of giving and receiving. Prudence Leib of Chicago touched a nerve when she exclaimed that she often felt like a “freak” in her local group because of her enthusiastic commitment to foundation activities. These feelings sparked a lively and candid discussion of the many problems inherent in the foundation movement. Topics ranged from individual experiences with local psychoanalytic groups to innovative foundation programs like the one initiated by Mark Levy in San Francisco. There a group of attorneys had been traumatized by a shooting in a downtown law office; working with the local bar association, he set up a series of three meetings to dispense information regarding post-traumatic stress disorder and other possible sequelae.
As usual, questions arose about the ethics of fund raising and gift giving, particularly in relation to analysands, past or present. These issues will be the focus of next year's workshop, now slated for Atlanta's Occidental Grand Hotel March 31 through April 2. Jim Robinson of Houston and Rima Brauer of Western New England will co-chair a subcommittee to study these issues, as well as conflicts about giving and receiving. Societies, institutes, and study groups are encouraged to send representatives to Atlanta, particularly lay members of foundation boards. Their participation is essential for the progress of psychoanalytic foundations.