A devoted family man whose passion, vision and business acumen combined to make him a leader in venture philanthropy, Dr. Robert N. Mayer will be remembered for a lifetime of good works.
Rob, as he was known to those who loved him, was the grandson of Nathan Cummings, and son of Beatrice C. Mayer, a founding trustee of the Nathan Cummings Foundation. During his many years at the Foundation, Rob served as chair of the board, treasurer and trustee. He was known for his great contributions to the Foundation’s head and heart – he was as comfortable leading thoughtful, probing conversations as he was making financial and budgetary decisions, all while being warm, conscientious, and deeply generous. Rob’s insight, analysis and guidance during our formative years helped make the Foundation what it is today.
Before his philanthropic work, Rob spent time in the private sector and founded HomeCorps, a health care company that improved quality of life for the elderly and handicapped. He was known for working with architects on innovative designs to boost the independence and comfort of seniors and others in residential communities.
In everything he did, Rob’s goal was always to help others. He continued his work in health care as founder and president of the Hulda B. and Maurice L. Rothschild Foundation, which pioneered eldercare reform at the policy and local level for more than two decades. The Rothschild Foundation is the only national philanthropy exclusively committed to person-centered long-term care in the United States, and its work has improved the quality of life of residents, patients and families alike in long term care communities.
Rob served as Chair of the Council on Foundations’ (COF) Family Foundations Conference and on the COF’s Ethics and Practices Committee, as well as the Academic Director at the Center for Nonprofit Management at Northwestern University’s School of Management. He founded the American Civil War Museum and was a trustee at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
As a visionary philanthropist, Rob earned a reputation as a strategic thinker and brilliant advisor, and was often asked to speak on issues related to aging and health care design.
It was under his leadership that in 2009 the Rothschild Foundation earned the Council on Foundations Critical Impact Award for innovative leadership and bold vision to solve societal issues. In 2012, Healthcare Design Magazine named Rob one of the most influential people in the industry. The following year, Rob accepted the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo Founder’s Award.
Shortly after Rob’s passing, Barry Barkan, a colleague in the field of elderly care, said, “In a philanthropic world that is too often bureaucratic, short on vision and self-congratulatory, Rob Mayer’s approach to activist social venture philanthropy should be a case study for every young person of inherited wealth who wants to invest in leveraging profound social change.”
While Rob was dedicated to improving the lives of the elderly, the handicapped, and so many others, he also was a collector of Civil War presentation swords and an avid traveler. But above all, Rob was devoted to his family – his wife of 40 years, Dr. Debra Weese-Mayer, and his children, Jaimie, Jennifer and Jonathan.
“The National Domestic Workers Alliance, which organizes nannies and housekeepers, recently produced what it calls the Good Work Code, which it has urged gig economy companies to adopt.”
UPDATE (March 14, 2016): Shortly after the release of the Proxy Access Scorecard, Vanguard announced a key change to its policy on proxy access. The mutual fund company will now generally support “proxy access” proposals with ownership thresholds of 3% of a company’s shares. Read more about the change in this Reuters article.
January 26, 2016
The Nathan Cummings Foundation released today the Proxy Access Scorecard, an analysis of how mutual funds voted on the key issue of “proxy access” at the annual meetings of 84 corporations in 2015. Proxy access allows shareholders to use a company’s proxy statement to nominate candidates for election to its board of directors and is seen as a key vehicle for enhancing board accountability. The Scorecard, compiled with data drawn from Fund Votes and analysis done by the 50/50 Climate Project, exposes a deep division in the mutual fund industry’s approach to proxy access.
Click Here to View Scorecard
Click Here to View Press Release
With more than 40,000 delegates converging on Paris with an expressed goal of achieving a legally binding agreement among 195 nations to curb climate change, the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP21 – was an unprecedented opportunity for us to get a first-hand look at the impact of the Nathan Cumming Foundation’s grantmaking efforts on shaping this international agreement. Many of our grantees were with us in Paris. We benefitted from their reflections and wanted to share ours.
We witnessed an unparalleled moment in climate history. Organizations representing grassroots constituencies from around the world emphasized the importance of community-led solutions and reinforced our shared values to pursue environmental solutions that enhance social equity and improve people’s lives. By all accounts, the Paris accord is a huge victory and offers a clear signal to the business community and world leaders that the world is ready for a low-carbon future.
“We have a tremendous opportunity now to initiate and inspire change. But it’s going to take imagination, hope and creativity,” said Board Chair Adam N. Cummings. “The science and data continue to grow more compelling, but we can’t let people become overwhelmed and paralyzed by it. It is critical that we take the data and translate it in actionable ways that get people involved on a community level and help them understand this data in a context that empowers them to do something in the world.”
Both Adam and Board Treasurer Ruth Cummings were inspired by constituency-building organizations and US and global funding peers, many of whom they met in person for the first time. They also discussed the important function NCF can play connecting hearts and minds.
“Paris reaffirmed that we as an organization landed in the right place by focusing on climate change and inequality,” Ruth said. “People living in poverty suffer the harshest effects of climate change. Our work can be the important bridge that connects the heartstrings to the hard policies. It is up to us now to double down on what we’re already doing so we can support grassroots organizations, hold business leaders accountable and engage with hearts and minds. We can be a leader moving beyond the fear factor and on to solutions.”
NCF President Sharon Alpert said the breadth and diversity of the movement made this COP different from previous gatherings.
“There was such a big difference between this COP and past COPs,” she said. “It was evident how much work NCF – with many colleagues and other funders – has been doing over the years to build a much broader constituency on behalf of climate change. Young leaders, faith leaders, business leaders, city leaders, indigenous leaders, grassroots communities and more are now part of the conversation reminding us that social change at this kind of scale is not just about solving the environmental problem. As we heard in Paris, the scale of the problem is finally evident: this is not just about climate, it is about reshaping the entire global economy. As Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC told us during a gathering of funders: this agreement is chaning the economic development model of the last 150 years and our job is to turbo charge it while making sure we’re safeguarding the most vulnerable. It’s about a new energy economy. It’s about jobs. It’s about democratic ownership, which tracks with our inequality priorities. Zero by 2050 sets a clear pace, but we now need to do the hard work.”
The call to action was felt by all of the NCF representatives who went to Paris.
“There’s a conversation that can happen now between those at the policy level and those at the grassroots, and that’s an opportunity that didn’t exist before,” said Maurine Knighton, Senior Vice President of Grantmaking. “We can break people out of their echo chambers, and push for transparency and accountability.”
The 21st annual session of the Conference of Parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
For Immediate Release
November 19, 2015
The Nathan Cummings Foundation, the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust and The Marco Consulting Group today announce a major corporate governance victory for Oracle shareholders.
A proxy access proposal submitted by the three funds to Oracle received the support of a majority of votes cast at the company’s annual meeting yesterday. Proxy access allows certain investors who meet ownership requirements to nominate candidates for the Board of Directors.
“We are pleased that Oracle shareholders agree proxy access benefits the company and its investors,” said Maureen O’Brien, Director of Corporate Governance at The Marco Consulting Group.
As reported in the Dow Jones Newswire today using data from proxy advisor ISS, “It marked the first time ORCL shareholders passed an investor resolution since at least 2005.”
“Proxy access is really about board responsiveness to investors’ concerns across a whole range of issues. Yesterday’s majority vote, combined with four consecutive failed say on pay proposals, is a wake up call for the Board,” said Laura Campos, the Director of Shareholder Activities at the Nathan Cummings Foundation.
Oracle has garnered criticism from institutional investors on the technology company’s excessive executive pay and other board accountability concerns.
A CFA Institute study found proxy access could raise US market capitalization by up to $140.3 billion if adopted market-wide.
Press contact: Maureen O’Brien, 312-612-8446 or Obrien@marcoconsulting.com
On November 14, 2015, the Nathan Cummings Foundation celebrated its 25th Anniversary. We were deeply honored to be joined by current and former trustees, staff, grantee partners, and long-time friends and allies. During the event, the Cummings family reflected on Nathan Cummings’s leadership style, passions, and faith—all of which inspired how they shaped NCF’s mission and priorities. Our grantee partners helped us see how that original spirit has been carried forward to support exciting, game-changing work and leaders. Artists for Humanity curated a special exhibit that revolved around NCF’s focus on Inequality and Climate Change, featuring artwork by the organization’s talented youth artists.
Just days before stepping into her new leadership role at the Foundation, NCF’s President and CEO Sharon Alpert shared this thought as we closed the evening:
The next 25 years will require more courageous leadership from the Nathan Cummings Foundation. That means standing up for our values and our vision of a just society, standing by those who are out there doing the hard work every day, and stepping out in ways that positively reflect the change we want to see in the world. It will require that we continue to pay attention to changing systems, as well as hearts and minds, and that we approach repairing the world with nothing less than audacious optimism.
Below are Sharon’s full remarks from that evening.
—
NCF 25th Anniversary Gala – November 14, 2015
What an amazing and inspiring evening. I’m still pinching myself that I am about to embark on this journey with this incredibly committed family, an experienced board with a passionate next generation of leadership poised to do great things, an impressive group of independent trustees and advisors, and a dedicated staff. And to all of you remarkable leaders in the field: I count myself lucky to know you and promise to continue to draw upon you in the months and years ahead.
Extraordinary people have been preparing me for this opportunity throughout my life. My own grandfather, Norman, was particularly fond of debating with the rabbis and he liked nothing more than bringing his granddaughter along to shul to see him in action. He inspired me to question the inequities in our world and debate the paths to addressing them.
My early mentors were environmental justice leaders like Michelle DePass, who demonstrated to me the power of organizing and of grassroots social movements. At the Ford Foundation, my first foray into philanthropy, my colleagues challenged me to break down the silos between fields and programs. Since then, collaboration has been my hallmark. And the board and staff at the Surdna Foundation, many of whom are here tonight, showed me the value of patience, humility, and authentic engagement if you want change to stick.
(Artists For Humanity Graphic Design Studio Collaboration)
All of this makes me who I am today, and makes me feel like I was meant to find my way here at this important moment for the Nathan Cummings Foundation.
Our work is about living our values. We’ve spent this evening together hearing about the values and culture which define the Nathan Cummings Foundation and which are the reason I’m standing here tonight. There’s a famous saying at NCF, coined by Buddy: “With great privilege comes great responsibility.” Those words embody the NCF ethos as well as my own belief that family philanthropy – when it’s at its best – is built on accountability. Accountability to its values, to its mission, and to serving the public trust.
Now more than ever, we need models of progressive, innovative, and accountable family philanthropy committed to social justice. You all know how rare that is. I count myself doubly lucky to have been part of that at Surdna, and to now join another leading model in the field.
I was drawn to NCF because it is a leader known for using all its resources – its grants, its investments, and its people – to achieve social change. Tonight we heard about the foundation’s belief in supporting leaders that are curious, bold and humble. NCF seeks innovation and ambition and puts all sorts of capital behind them. We heard about the foundation’s deep-rooted belief in taking risks. This foundation tests new ideas and builds new fields. It is not afraid to makes mistakes and is eager to learn from them.
I believe philanthropy plays a critical role in our society. Our job is to call out injustice when we see it, and back those willing to take it on. We are challengers to the old ways of working, and instigators of imagining new ways. We work best when we are a trusted and credible partner and a connector of people and resources. To make the gigantic leaps we want, we must harness our collective knowledge, networks and influence.
Our shared success will rest on the integrity of our relationships, on our willingness to build bridges across divides, and on our ability to invest in the best ideas and the brightest leaders. Like good dance partners, knowing when to lead and knowing when to follow. I promise to try to remember that on the dance floor tonight.
You may have seen the article in the NYT about the new philanthropic ambition. It noted that climate change, inequality and the broken criminal justice system are the issues du jour. That signals to me the opportunity for an unprecedented level of collaboration on the issues we care about. Since none of those issues are low hanging fruit, it’s nice to have good company and a good dose of humility.
As I reflect on the attacks in Paris, I know that the next 25 years will require more courageous leadership from the Nathan Cummings Foundation. That means standing up for our values and our vision of a just society, standing by those who are out there doing the hard work every day, and stepping out in ways that positively reflect the change we want to see in the world. It will require that we continue to pay attention to changing systems, as well as hearts and minds, and that we approach repairing the world with nothing less than audacious optimism.
From the stories we’ve heard tonight, and that the staff shared with me when I asked them about NCF’s special spark, it’s clear that we have a lot to live up to. I don’t take that lightly. I am awed at the prospect and humbled to work to make our next 25 years as courageous as the first 25. I don’t think I could ask for a better set of dance partners than we have in this room tonight, so let’s get to it!
Xiang Liang Xu, Enlightment (left)
Joanna Bafia, The Ugly Truth (right)
Nathalie Myrthil, Untitled (left)
Patrick Joseph, Expressing Inner Colors (right)
Rachel Cowan, Former Director, Jewish Life & Values Program + Peter Teague, Former Director, Ecological Innovation / Contemplative Practice Program
Flexibility, livable wages and room for growth. These are just a few things that make up a “good” job. That’s according to the National Domestic Workers Alliance, which wants to make sure the growing number of on-demand jobs are good jobs. This week, it announced an initiative called the Good Work Code, which aims to set standards for on-demand firms.
Beatrice Cummings Mayer, Trustee Emeritus + Jaimie Mayer, Trustee + Robert N. Mayer, Trustee
Khary Lazzare-White, Executive Director, Co-Founder, Brotherhood—SisterSol
Sharon Alpert Joins Nathan Cummings Foundation as President and CEO
The Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Sharon Alpert will become the Nathan Cummings Foundation’s fourth president and first female leader in November 2015. Sharon is currently the Vice President of Programs and Strategic Initiatives at the Surdna Foundation.
Sharon has more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of inequality and environmental issues. Having spent more than a decade with the Surdna Foundation, Sharon also brings with her deep experience working with a multi-generational family dedicated to social justice. Her service at the Surdna Foundation was defined by her commitment to collaboration, innovation, and creating a culture of learning.
“In our search for a President and CEO, we looked for a leader who will foster a culture of collaboration, advance our strategic direction, and reflect a personal passion for our mission,” said Adam Cummings, chair of the Nathan Cummings Foundation’s Board of Directors. “In Sharon, we found all three. Her decades of experience, keen focus on creative and collaborative philanthropy and excellent management abilities will move the foundation forward into the next phase of our work.”
The full press release announcing Sharon’s appointment is available here . You can learn more about Sharon’s background and career by reading her full bio here . Both of these pieces reflect the vision, dedication, and experience that Sharon brings to the foundation.
Sharon is unequivocally the best person to lead the Nathan Cummings Foundation as we move forward in our work to build a just society. We hope you will join us in welcoming her to the team.
Each year, the United States spends $80 billion to lock away more than 2.4 million people in its jails and prison – budgetary allocations that outpace spending on housing, transportation and higher eduction.
Gap Inc. announced Wednesday that it would end on-call scheduling for employees at its stores by the end of September, making it the latest retailer to drop a practice increasingly seen as unfriendly to working families. In a post on a company blog, Andi Owen, global president for Banana Republic, said Gap Inc.’s various brands had been reevaluating their scheduling practices over the past year with an eye toward “work-life integration.”
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit handed a victory to the Obama administration on Friday, ruling that the Department of Labor can make home-care providers eligible for the minimum wage and overtime pay.The three-judge panel on the federal court of appeals reversed the decision of a lower court, stating that the administration’s move was within the powers of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA).