Reatha Clark King Selected for Hill Philanthropy Fellowship

Retired General Mills Foundation president Reatha Clark King has been selected as the second Louis W. Hill, Jr. fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs. The one-year fellowship provides financial and administrative support to an outstanding community leader for the study of important issues facing philanthropy. The year culminates with a public symposium during which the fellow presents her findings.

King was chosen through a process similar to the Nobel Prize - those selecting the fellow remain anonymous, and candidates are unaware of their nomination until the decision is announced. J. Brian Atwood, dean of the Humphrey Institute, commended King for her contributions. “Reatha Clark King’s expertise in both academia and philanthropy make her the perfect choice,” Atwood said. “This fellowship is a capstone to her exemplary career in science, higher education and as a corporate foundation president.”

“The concept of supporting a community leader to study philanthropy in a university setting is unique,” said Ellis Bullock, executive director of the Grotto Foundation, Minneapolis, which is funding the fellowship together with Northwest Area Foundation, St. Paul. “Both the staff and board of the Grotto Foundation were delighted with the selection of Dr. Reatha Clark King.”

King, a nationally recognized leader in philanthropy and higher education, led the General Mills Foundation as its president from 1988 to 2002 and as its board chair from 2002 to 2003. From 1977 to 1988, King was president of Metropolitan State University in the Twin Cities. She serves on the boards of Exxon Mobil Corp., Minnesota Mutual, H.B. Fuller Co., Wells Fargo, the Clark Atlanta University and the International Trachoma Initiative. King is a life trustee of the University of Chicago. She was a member of the board of directors of the Minnesota Council on Foundations from 1990 to 1999, and chaired the board from 1993 to 1995. She holds a doctorate in thermochemistry from the University of Chicago and has been awarded 14 honorary degrees.

“Nationally, knowledge about the field is shared mostly by word of mouth,” King said. “As a profession, we haven’t developed the more traditional methods of research, as in chemistry. This fellowship gives me the opportunity to study several issues important to the field.”

During her fellowship, King plans to focus on the following questions:

• Why is there such a strong legacy of personal, family and corporate philanthropy in Minnesota? Is it sustainable? How can the work of the Humphrey Institute’s Center for Leadership of Nonprofits, Philanthropy and the Private Sector strengthen our understanding of this legacy?
     

• How do corporations contribute to the community (e.g. money, volunteer time, ideas, in-kind contributions, products and services)? Which makes the greatest impact? What are the key themes that “connect the dots” of effective corporate philanthropy?
       

• How do we capture the expertise of the philanthropy profession and transfer it from generation to generation of program officers? What are the leadership traits for effective philanthropy?

The Northwest Area Foundation and the Grotto Foundation established the fellowship, which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the nation, to commemorate the 100th birthday of Louis W. Hill, Jr., who founded the Grotto Foundation. His father, Louis W. Hill, Sr., son of James J. Hill, established the Northwest Area Foundation. The $1 million gift from the two foundations provides support over five years for the center and the fellowship. 

Karl Stauber, president of the Northwest Area Foundation, emphasized the purpose of the gift. “The Hill family has been committed to philanthropy for several generations,” he said. “We hope that this fellowship will both enhance the profession and also encourage others to give generously to improve the economic and social conditions of our communities.”

The first Louis W. Hill, Jr. Fellowship was awarded to Joe Selvaggio, founder of Project for Pride in Living in Minneapolis. Selvaggio’s report challenged conventional thinking about the foundation leadership and management. He presented his findings publicly in December 2003.

For more information about the Louis W. Hill, Jr. Fellowship, visit the Humphrey Institute’s Web site.

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