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Needmor Fund: A Long-Term Commitment to Local Community Leadership

Making a Difference

Needmor Fund: A Long-Term Commitment to Local Community Leadership

When they started their family foundation, Duane and Virginia Secor Stranahan drew upon their parents' legacy of community stewardship. In the late 19th century, the Secors were pivotal to Toledo, Ohio's economic, intellectual, and cultural formation. In 1910, Frank Stranahan and his brother Robert founded The Champion Spark Plug Company, which was to become a leader in corporate accountability and philanthropy.  Leadership and strategies change; yet the Needmor Fund remains faithful to one goal: to empower those individuals whose basic rights to justice and opportunity are systematically ignored or denied. Read More…

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In the News

  • The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University has released the 2007 State of the Nation's Housing report.   Access the Executive Report here. Read More...
  • The Internal Revenue Service may need to take further steps to better help the public identify inefficient and ineffective nonprofit organizations, Steven T. Miller, a top tax-agency official, recently told a group of foundation officials and donors. He also said that the agency may take steps to respond to growing Congressional and public concern about charities that hoard assets. Read More...
  • Slate magazine reports on the risk to critical community services during these difficult economic times. Read More...

Facts & Figures

  • More than 200 cities are engaged in climate protection activities in the US
  • Only 48% of the teaching force in New Orleans' Recovery School District are "veteran teachers," or teachers with 3 or more years of experience.
  • Health insurance premiums have jumped 87% since 2000, about four times the rate of wage increases.
  • Between December 1998 and 2004, State Children's Health Insurance Program enrollment grew from 897,000 to 4 million with little evidence that the program displaced employer-sponsored private insurance