mission, vision & values

Mission

Flintridge Center is committed to nourishing individualism, honoring diversity in society and nature, supporting creativity, and promoting just and cooperative partnerships so that human beings may evolve more effectively toward wholeness and the natural environment toward sustainability.

Purpose

The Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, youth and families in Northwest Pasadena and Altadena, California.

Vision

Flintridge Center envisions:

• a sustainable earth, in which a conscious humanity holds the environment and its inhabitants in trust for future generations. The enduring health and richness of its natural resources are assured through the ongoing rejuvenation of the earth.
• a pervasive appreciation of the independent, creative voice in society. People of all backgrounds and perspectives will come to cherish the role of creativity in fostering a reflective, engaged, and enriched way of life. Communities will support artists and their unique artistic processes, thereby nurturing the independent, expressive voice in all human endeavors.
• compassion in community life. Awareness of personal action will motivate people to act on the basis of their convictions for the greater good of their fellow beings and for posterity.
• the realization of the inherent dignity of every human being, whereby people are afforded opportunities to reach their highest potential. Communities will encourage and support individuals' desire to find their place in the world, to believe in themselves, and to exercise their fullest capacity to affect the lives around them for the better.

Philosophy & Values

The following core principles grow out of the Foundation's mission and serve to guide its work. They inform the standards by which the Foundation evaluates its own performance as well as that of the organizations it supports.

The privilege of community service
The Foundation considers it an honor to join forces with the larger community in projects of common interest, to know committed, creative people, and to support them in their work.

Integrity
Grantmaking entails responsibilities, including open, clear, and honest communication with partnering organizations and individuals; accountability to the Foundation's mission and values; a commitment to remaining informed and involved; and careful, sensitive stewardship of resources dedicated to public benefit.

Equal partnerships
The Foundation seeks partnerships with people who share common goals and are committed to reaching them creatively and responsibly. The Foundation relies on organizations and individuals to describe their needs, goals, and strategies. To this end, it is committed to listening and learning from people and to maintaining an open channel through which to communicate mutual aspirations and procedures.

At present, the Foundation chooses to pursue its mission through working with small, community-based organizations. This decision accords first and foremost with its belief that the most significant change starts at the grassroots level in situations where caring, creative people are close to the problems, have the pulse of their communities, understand their ecosystems, and can see prospective solutions from the "inside." Working with smaller organizations also serves the pragmatic function of determining which organizations can receive the greatest benefit and impact from the Foundation's resources.

High quality
The Foundation concentrates its resources on definable issues and targeted constituencies in the belief that sustained engagement with a finite number of organizations and people promotes in-depth, high-quality work.

Innovation
The Foundation supports bold creativity in the forms of uncensored artistic expression and innovative strategies that address human and environmental needs in today's world.

Inclusiveness
The Foundation believes that cooperation, sharing, and the recognition of our interdependence empower people to create positive and deeply rooted social change. It supports the efforts of communities that address their problems, issues, and objectives through cooperative action.

Diversity
The Foundation believes that honoring a multiplicity of perspectives derived from various backgrounds and experiences promotes fuller understanding, which in turn engenders creative solutions to complex challenges.

Longevity
The Foundation channels its efforts toward establishing relationships with organizations through projects that yield enduring strategies for success. Specifically, it offers financial and technical support, management development programs, and other forms of assistance in order to build the internal strength, efficiency, and long-term viability of community-based organizations.

Photo: Brian Biery