UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Interview #775
TAYLOR, MARTHA

TAYLOR, MARTHA (1949- )
Vice President of the University of Wisconsin Foundation
At UW: 1969-1971, as student; 1975-current as administrator

Interviewed: 2006	
Interviewer: Robert Lange
Index by: Rob Rabe
Length: 9 hours

Abstract: Childhood and early life in Madison; the influence of her grandfather, Professor Olaf Hougen; childhood years in Washington DC, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles; high school at a racially integrated school in Los Angeles; the student activist culture of the 1960s; undergraduate study at the University of California- Santa Barbara; transfer to the University of Wisconsin; degree in History; Master’s Degree at University of West Virginia; Employment at the UW Foundation in 1975; religious activities; the Bascom Hill Society; modernizing Foundation record keeping systems; Foundation publications and communication activities; Women’s philanthropy; the Women’s Philanthropy Council; workshops and seminars on women’s philanthropy, books; Campus leadership; the Foundation board and leadership; substantial gifts to the UW by women.

NOTE:  This interview was restricted until 2016. 

Interview Session 1 (June 20, 2006): Tapes 1-3

00:00:39	Martha Taylor was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1949. Her parents were 	graduate students at UW when she was born.  She was born in the old University 	Hospital.  

00:02:18	She gives some background information about her parents.  They grew up during 	the Depression and eventually were able to attend college and graduate school.  	Her grandfather on her mother’s side, Olaf Hougen, was a Professor of Chemical 	Engineering.

00:04:45	She explains that her mother was a grad student in Economics and her father was 	in Law School at UW when they met.  She talks about where they lived when she 	was a small child.  She talks about her grandparent’s home on the west side of 	Madison.

00:07:11	She talks about her grandfather’s interest in history and his efforts to teach her about the city and state.  Her family’s immigration from Norway.

00:12:15	She explains the effect of living in a family with such a distinguished relative.  Pressure for success. Deep family roots in the Madison and university community.

00:15:09	MT discusses the family’s attitudes about education and achievement for women.

00:16:21	Taylor talks about her mother’s love of traveling.  Her family moved to Washington DC where her father worked as a lawyer for the Internal Revenue Service. They lived there for 4 years in the 1950s.

00:18:33	She shares some memories of living in Washington DC as a child.

00:19:11	The family moved to Minneapolis and Los Angeles during her later childhood. She compares the school systems in the two places.

00:20:23	She talks about the similarity between Madison and Minneapolis. She discusses the dramatic changes she experienced when they lived in Los Angeles. She talks about some friends from the Midwest who also lived in LA.

00:25:38	Taylor talks about racial attitudes in the neighborhood.  Realtors exploited racial fears to convince white homeowners to sell their homes as African-American families moved into the neighborhood.

00:26:56	She discusses the white flight from the neighborhood.  By the time she graduated from high school in 1967, only 5% of the students in her class were white.  She talks about the experience of being a racial minority and the effect it has had on her life.

00:31:36	End of Tape 1, Side 1. 

00:31:42	Taylor talks about her high school class. The dramatic increase in African-American students. There were not many significant problems in the high school.

00:34:42	She talks about the lack of inter-racial dating and separate social spheres among students. She talks about her dating and social life in high school.  Her participation in swimming and athletics.

00:36:49	She talks about going to high school dances and socializing with African-American students.

00:37:35	She explains how her childhood experiences as a minority have given her perspective and awareness about minority issues.  She talks about the lack of minority students at UW and the establishment of the Chancellor’s Minority Scholarship.

00:41:51	MT talks about working with Joe Corry. She discusses her efforts to raise awareness about the need for minority scholarships.

00:45:06	She talks about her working relationship with the Board of Directors of the UW Foundation. The role of Bob Rennebohm and Irv Shain in setting up the scholarship program.

00:49:21	She explains the process of getting board approval to create a position to administer the minority scholarship program.  Her selection to make the presentation to the board.

00:52:12	Taylor talks about her involvement with the Tele-fund and other “big budget” programs.

00:53:41	She talks about the board agreeing to spend $150,000 to hire a coordinator and set up the program. The hiring process. Marion Brown.

00:57:50	Taylor returns to a discussion of her high school years. She talks about her decision about where to attend college. The Watts riots and the anti-war culture of the late 1960s.

00:58:29	She explains why she chose to attend the University of California-Santa Barbara and not to return to Madison.

00:59:46	MT talks about being “miserably unhappy” at UCSB, despite the nice weather and beach.  She had “reverse culture shock” because of the lack of minority students on campus.

01:03:22	End of Tape 1, Side 2. 

01:03:29	Taylor talks about the frustration of encountering so many wealthy students at UCSB.  

01:06:17	She talks about living in a private dorm with a lot of rich students. She talks about their lack of awareness and involvement in political issues of the day. Her family tradition of activism.

01:10:06	MT discusses some of the young men she met at UCSB and why she was never interested in having a long relationship with them. The reasons for her desire to leave UCSB.

01:11:45	She explains how she decided to transfer to UW at the beginning in fall 1969.  Her need for an intellectual challenge.

01:12:48	She talks about the student protest movement and the anti-war demonstrations.

01:13:58	MT majored in history at UW and graduated in the spring of 1971.  Studying Norwegian language and summer school travel to Norway in 1970.

01:14:34	She feels that UW was not much more challenging academically than UCSB.  She enjoyed the smaller upper-level courses of her last years.  The UW history department.

01:16:48	She talks about her love of UW and Madison.  Feeling that she was “coming home.”  Midwest values.

01:17:48	Taylor discusses some of the memorable professors she had at UW.  She talks about her interest in Norway because of her heritage.  She became interested in Japan and studied Southeast Asian history.

01:21:49	She talks about Gene Boardman, who taught Asian history and was her major advisor.  The culture of the UW history department at the time.  The Scandinavian Studies department.

01:26:44	MT talks about her continued interest in Scandinavian history and literature.  

01:27:51	She talks about the International Summer School in Norway.

01:29:15	MT discusses her enjoyment of art history and studio arts classes at UW.  Drawing and ceramics.  The role of art in her life.  Using her creativity to produce the first “corporate look” for the UW Foundation.

01:32:31	She discusses the balance between taking care of your own needs vs. giving to others.  

01:34:49	End of Tape 2, Side 1.

01:34:55	Taylor talks about the ‘joy of giving’ and the commitment to using your resources and energy to benefit society.  The stereotype of rich people as uncaring.  She talks about the need for education to teach people about the benefits of philanthropy.

01:38:20	She talks about the slow pace of developing significant relationships with potential donors. She discusses seminars on philanthropy to encourage and educate potential donors. 

01:40:02	Encouraging the intellectual process of becoming a philanthropist.  Helping donors feel that philanthropy is not an obligation.

01:41:30	MT talks about helping families translate their interests and passions into donations and gifts.

01:44:35	She discusses changes in federal funding of education and how it increases 	pressure on fund raising and donors.  The “luxury” of working with UW’s 	long-standing program.

01:47:15	Taylor talks about meeting her future husband, Gary, at UW.  The importance of family in her life. She talks about attending campus events with her grandfather.

01:49:34	Dating.  She discusses her husband’s family background in Wisconsin.  

01:52:33	She talks about deciding to attend graduate school, but needing some practical experience. She took a job as a secretary and youth program director at Trinity Lutheran Church.  She worked there for 2 years.  Meeting Robert Gard.

01:53:57	Taylor outlines her work establishing a small history library at the church.  Her grandfather’s involvement in the project.

01:56:48	She talks about her work on the church newsletter and a fund raising drive. Learning the basics of fund raising from the ministers of the church. She talks about the history of church fund raising in the US.

01:59:14	MT discusses her decision about attending graduate school or law school.  Her husband wanted to leave Madison.

02:00:50	They were accepted to West Virginia, in Morgantown.  He was in Industrial Relations and she was in journalism, with a focus on development.  Funding.

02:02:35	She discusses their experiences at WV between 1973 and 1975. The frustration of living in a small town again. Lutheran Campus Ministry.

02:03:43	Taylor talks about the origin of the Lutheran Campus Ministry program at UW about 100 years ago.  

02:05:53	She talks about her MA thesis project on fund raising in higher education in which she studied WVU and UW.  

02:06:33	End of Tape 2, Side 2. 

02:06:37	Taylor continues to talk about her thesis research.  

02:08:50	She talks about writing a book about philanthropy later in her career.  “Reinventing Fundraising,” co-written with Sondra Shaw. The need for more academic study and writing about the subject.

02:12:03	She talks about her grandfather as an example of creating a new area of academic scholarship.

02:14:17	MT discusses feedback from readers of her book. The practical application of theories developed in the book.

02:16:12	She explains how she and her husband decided to move back to Madison.  Her husband came back to UW for law school in 1975.  She worked part time for the YMCA until her thesis was finished.  She intended to work at the Alumni Association or the Foundation.

02:17:07	Bob Rennebohm.  She outlines some of the history of the UW Foundation.

02:18:55	Taylor explains how she got a job at the UW Foundation.  Her academic and professional experience.

02:22:46	She talks about her initial job offer and $10,000 salary. She started the job on Oct. 15, 1975.

02:24:22	MT discusses her work at the Foundation in the late 1970s.  She talks about state support for the UW. At that time, the state funded 49% of costs; today it is 16%.  The Foundation was seen as “icing on the cake” in the 70s. There were 9 people working for the Foundation then.

02:26:06	She talks about raising money for the “margin of excellence” vs. meeting core educational expenses. Funding arts-related projects. The Elvehjem Museum. Music programming.

02:28:17	She talks about establishing endowed professorships. The Olaf Hougen Professorship.  

02:30:51	She talks about the centennial celebration of the Department of Chemical Engineering.

02:33:24	MT discusses the need for greater cross-discipline interaction among the faculty.  The UW Institute for Discovery. The success of alumni from the Chemical Engineering Department.

02:36:22	She talks about setting up faculty memorial funds. She lists the other people who worked at the Foundation in the late 70s.

02:37:56	End of Tape 3, Side 1.

02:38:10	She continues to talk about other members of the Foundation staff.  

02:39:33	Taylor talks about being a woman working in the office in the 1970s. Gender segregation and coffee breaks. Meeting Gayle Langer at a seminar of women in professional leadership roles.  

02:43:43	She talks about starting to attend the men’s coffee break to discuss business.  Learning about sports to make conversation.

02:47:05	MT discusses her problems breaking into the male leadership culture of the Foundation. Encouragement from Bob Rennebohm and disrespect from some of the other men.

02:49:07	She discusses tension among the Foundation staff over the issue of growth and expansion. Some of the staff felt that the Foundation should remain small to save expenses.

02:51:17	She talks about her ambition to expand the Foundation.  Rennebohm’s vision and management skills.  Her assessment of Rennebohm’s personality and leadership style.

02:55:08	She talks about Tim Riley and Sandy Wilcox. Tension and successes within the Foundation.

02:56:39	Taylor talks about a couple specific instances of gender discrimination that she faced.  Controversy about family health insurance costs: the men in the department were getting family insurance at no extra cost and the women had to pay.

02:59:59	She explains how she worked with Ed Young to redress the situation. Confronting Rennebohm on the issue. The policy was revised to make it fair for all employees.

03:05:20	Taylor talks more generally about the problem of gender discrimination at the Foundation.  She feels that discrimination remains a problem for professional women. She talks about her dedication to fighting for gender equity.

03:07:12	End of Tape 3, Side 2. 

Interview Session 2 (June 21, 2006): Tapes 4-6

00:00:16	Martha Taylor discusses her career at the Foundation during the 1980s.  She talks about her early success as a campus leader and the support of Irv Shain and Bob Rennebohm.

00:01:52	She talks about the Forward with Wisconsin campaign to raise $15 million for the museum, rec center, and health sciences center.  This was the first multi-disciplinary campaign for the Foundation.

00:02:50	MT talks about her efforts to create a cohesive design for the Foundation. Public Relations and Communication strategies.

00:04:24	She discusses the Arts Outreach program that sent UW musical groups to perform 	around the state. She talks about how the campaign was marketed and how she established her reputation with faculty relations.

00:07:06	Attending Big 10 meetings and other conferences to learn how other universities conducted fund raising.

00:08:37	She talks about early hesitation to spend money on travel and outreach.  She discusses changes in their publication and graphic design practices to create more attractive mailings and other materials.

00:13:23	She talks about working with Ruth Doyle to improve the appearance of the UW Law School newsletter.

00:14:52	MT discusses her effort to raise awareness of the need to spend the money to create a first class appearance for the university.

00:15:49	She explains how the President’s Club Fund was changed into the Bascom Hill Society.

00:18:02	She discusses the tension between the Alumni Association and the Foundation.  

00:19:23	She talks about academic programs launched by the Bascom Hill Society in the 1980s.  Working with Gayle Langer to coordinate activities of the Alumni Association and foundation.

00:21:58	MT talks about creating a database to make record-keeping easier and more efficient.  Working with Division of Information Technology to plan and implement the new system.

00:26:15	She explains how the need for a comprehensive study of the fund raising needs of the various schools and departments became apparent. She talks about different models for university foundations.

00:28:58	They did the survey in 1979 and issued a formal report to Irv Shain in 1980. The report recommended a centralized data system for alumni records and outlined appropriate functions for the Foundation.

00:31:16	End of Tape 4, Side 1.

00:31:30	Taylor discusses her work on new policies for the School and College Development Program in 1980. She talks about the goal of centralizing the planning for fund raising campaigns.

00:34:03	She mentions that groups on campus now have a better understanding about how to coordinate campaigns. 

00:37:00	She talks about her presentation of the new policy to the Deans.  She discusses the Foundation’s efforts to implement the new policy. Hiring some new staff to oversee publications.  

00:38:25	MT talks about being an over-achiever and being too likely to do too many things 	at one time.  She talks about some small mistakes she made, but feels that in general she did a great job.  Long hours and support from Rennebohm.

00:40:12	She talks about her travels to conduct seminars on giving.  Creating brochures and other materials to accompany the new programs.

00:41:33	MT discusses efforts by the University to professionalize its public relations activities in the 1980s.  Only members of the Alumni Association regularly received communication from the University.  The majority of the alumni were not members, and rarely were contacted or informed about campus activities.

00:43:03	She talks about the creation of a tabloid mailing (On Wisconsin) to send to all alumni, regardless of membership in the Alumni Association.  Competition with the alumni magazine. Changes to the format of the Foundation’s annual report.

00:44:25	She talks about the production of the On Wisconsin magazine and lists some of the other people who helped on writing, design and photography.

00:48:20	MT discusses the creation of the Tele-Fund.  Indiana University was the 1st to create this kind of system and she went down there to learn about their program. She talks about the high cost of implementing the system and her difficulty in “selling” the idea to the board.

00:49:17	She talks about the cramped working conditions in her office at the University Club.  New staffing to work on Tele-Fund.  She talks about some of the different office spaces and facilities the Foundation owned and occupied during her career.

00:52:23	MT talks about the origins of the University Relations Grant program. She talks about the UW communication office and their publications. Working with Art Hove to coordinate the budgeting and planning of publications. The Campus Fact Sheets. She talks about the continual problem of the budget for communications and publications being cut.

00:57:44	The University Relations Grant program now has a $2.2 million budget to fund University publications.  Merging the alumni magazine and On Wisconsin. Using inserts to target specific groups.  

00:59:03	She outlines the challenge of trying to convince people around campus that it was worthwhile to spend extra money to improve the quality of UW publications.  

01:02:09	She sums up the major changes that she oversaw at the Foundation during the early 1980s.

01:02:50	End of Tape 4, Side 2.

01:02:53	Taylor continues to sum up the Foundation’s operations in the 80s. She talks about some of the significant members of the Foundation board at the time.  Warren Knowles.

01:05:45	She talks about Katherine Clary’s role on the board.  Gordon Walker.  Don Schlichter.

01:10:40	She discusses the investments held by the Foundation and efforts in the 1980s to grow the endowments.

01:12:11	Tony de Lorenzo.

01:13:00	MT talks about her feeling of being respected as a professional by the 80s.  She earned promotions and raises and took on added responsibility for staff and programs.

01:13:46	She talks about Harlan Nichols, board treasurer. Consolidating and investing Foundation account funds.

01:15:23	She talks about Bob Rennebohm’s management and vision. Cultivating major donors.  George and Norm Becker, of Fon du Lac.

01:16:05	She talks about the long term of membership on the board and the stability it offers.  She discusses the quality of the board over time.  The board has grown and become much more diverse and active.

01:18:36	MT discusses the small size of the Foundation staff back in her early years and how this forced everybody to work in all of the different projects and events.

01:19:51	She talks about the importance of the Bascom Hill Society in the 70s and 80s. It was the main Foundation focus at the time.  Donors had to give $10,000 to be a member.  It was raised to $25,000 in the early 90s.

01:25:02	She explains that the Society had about 100 members when she started working for the Foundation.  She got to know almost all of them.  Now there are over 5000 members.

01:27:54	Taylor discusses Bob Rennebohm’s legacy at the Foundation and the UW community.  She talks about some people who he hired to oversee specific aspects of the Foundation’s operations.

01:30:39	She talks about the lack of supervisory experience that sometimes hurt their productivity.  

01:31:31	Taylor had her first child in 1984.  She talks about how she balanced work and family.  They came back to work after 6 weeks of maternity leave.

01:32:42	She talks about Joel Skornicka’s brief tenure at the Foundation and his inability to fit in.

01:34:00	End of Tape 5, Side 1.

01:34:11	Taylor continues to talk about Skornicka.  His presence created “chaos” and unhappiness at the Foundation.

01:35:26	MT discusses negative aspects of the year 1986.  Her grandfather passed away in January.  She suffered a miscarriage.  Her father passed away unexpectedly in August.  She talks about questioning her dedication to the Foundation and think about other priorities in her life.

01:37:52	She talks about how these experiences made her more interested in women’s issues.

01:38:12	She talks about planning to conduct a 1987 feasibility study for future fund raising in which the School of Education and School of Human Ecology rated very low.  The dramatic under-representation of women among the people who were surveyed.  

01:44:15	MT discusses her effort to increase the involvement of women.  She formed a small group of women to work on raising awareness and creating a new attitude about the role of women in philanthropy.

01:46:31	Bob Rennebohm retired in 1987.  She had a second child in early 1988.  She discusses the drift in the Foundation during the time of her maternity leave.  Things “fell apart” during the period when nobody took up the slack.

01:49:13	She talks about returning to work in the fall of 1988.  Sandy Wilcox started as the new Director at around the same time. 

01:50:01	She talks about Rennebohm’s health problems.  She outlines the job search and eventual hiring of Wilcox in 1988.

01:52:39	MT discusses her own shortcoming as a manager and supervisor.  She talks about the Foundation’s sick leave and child care policies and how she became more sympathetic to women’s issues.

01:54:57	She explains how Wilcox took away many of her responsibilities and staff because of his feeling that she was not doing a good job.  Wilcox saw her as “part of the problem.”  She thought seriously about leaving the Foundation.

01:57:54	Taylor talks about why she decided to stay at the Foundation in her diminished role.  Her work on the Campaign for Wisconsin.  Conflict between Wilcox and Tim Riley.

01:59:50	She continued an 80% appointment to spend more time with her family.  She talks about not getting a raise and feeling that Wilcox didn’t “like her style.”

02:03:26	She talks about how Wilcox has adopted the Rennebohm values of the UW Foundation over time.

02:03:56	End of Tape 5, Side 2.

02:04:27	Taylor begins a lengthy discussion of her involvement with women’s issues in philanthropy. She returns to the 1987 feasibility study that demonstrated the flaws in the way the Foundation thought about women. (Six of 100 interviewees were women.)

02:06:49	She points out that the UW alumni population at the time was approximately 35-40% women. Women were not considered opinion leaders or significant potential donors and the Foundation operated with this bias.

02:08:30	With the help of Jean Manchester Biddick, forming a small group of women to study the problem and urge changes. The Women’s Philanthropy Council. She lists the members of the group and talks about their backgrounds.

02:10:43	The group conducted a study of the status of women on campus, how many women donated to the Foundation, how women were credited for gifts, and other issues.  They found that women gave a substantial amount of money at the lower and the highest levels of giving.

02:13:02	MT mentions that Rennebohm had tried to set up a women’s giving program in the late 1960s, but it didn’t come to fruition.  Seminars on estate planning and giving for women in the 1970s.  This program evolved into a family estate planning program.  

02:17:01	Continuing to discuss Bob Rennebohm, MT talks about the relationship formed between the women in the Mead family (Consolidated Paper) and the Foundation. According to MT, Rennebohm’s successors were unduly focused on white male alumni giving.

02:19:40	She continues to discuss the larger context motivating her to form a women’s giving program. She talks about the culture of fundraising as “sales” rather than relationships.  

02:21:33	MT talks about the Foundation’s hiring decisions.  People were hired to oversee relationships with constituents that were more male-oriented and Taylor often worked with groups that were seen as women’s programs.

02:22:42	She explains that many women tended to give their gifts at the end of their lives while men often got involved in philanthropy earlier, which made them more active and visible in the giving community.

02:23:53	She talks about the vital support from Jean Manchester Biddick.    She gave $5000 to help support the group’s work.  

02:24:46	MT mentions an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education about capping women’s enrolment at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She talks about some of the “myths” about women’s philanthropy that informed a lot of policy making and discussion of the topic. The group she helped form around this problem was called the Council on Women’s Giving (later the Women’s Philanthropy Council). 

02:28:49	MT talks about meeting Sondra Shaw and her involvement in women’s philanthropy.  She explains how they started writing together.  Setting up focus groups to study women’s attitudes about philanthropy.  She talks about the results of their studies.

02:35:19	End of Tape 6, Side 1.

Interview Session 3 (June 22, 2006): Tapes 6-9

00:00:15	Martha Taylor continues to discuss what they learned from the focus groups.  She talks about 150 interviews with women philanthropists that they conducted for a book.

00:02:14	She talks about how they craft questions to determine which issues and programs are of the greatest interest to groups of philanthropists.  Helping women identify their passion to motivate and organize their giving.

00:05:53	MT shares her observations about women about philanthropy.  Women tend to be less aware of financial planning and the process of giving.  She points out that even women from wealthy families with a long history of giving did not always know a lot about philanthropy.

00:07:52	She talks about how the effort to increase women’s philanthropy mirrored other initiatives for women (like National Organization for Women) that took place at UW.  The role of UW in promoting women’s role in higher education.

00:10:01	She talks about the early work of the Women’s Philanthropy Council.  Justifying the need for a specific group for women within the Foundation.

00:11:13	She talks about the six key founders of the organization and how the organization grew.  Making connections with female civic leaders.

00:13:07	She talks about the monthly meetings of the group to determine fund raising needs and organizing activities.  Their first gift.

00:14:56	She talks about the Women’s Philanthropy Forum, an educational program on investments and philanthropy set up by the group.  There have been 8 of these forums.

00:17:23	MT explains how news of the success of the Women’s Philanthropy Council spread to other universities. (Here she also mentions how the Foundation would discriminate against female donors and direct them exclusively to MT.) The group was featured in a New York Times Magazine article on April 1, 1991. 

00:21:15	She talks about an event that they held to generate some photos for the NYTimes Magazine article. In the process of describing the planning of this event, MT mentions then-professor Denise Denton and the Council’s efforts to provide opportunities for female faculty to gain experience in development.  The importance of development experience for advancement in higher education.

00:26:00	MT talks about the large number of people who called her in response to the magazine article.  

00:29:27	Working with Sondra Shaw.  Creating a newsletter for a national organization to promote women’s philanthropy.

00:31:23	End of Tape 6, Side 2.  

00:31:39	Taylor continues to discuss her work to working relationship with Sondra Shaw and the creation of the newsletter.

00:33:08	Finding fun in her work.  Creating new workshops for women who want to learn about philanthropy.  Sending the newsletter to all the people who contacted her about the NY Times Magazine article.

00:36:08	MT talks about giving a presentation at the CASE conference and meeting people who had read the newsletter.  She talks about being invited to speak at other gatherings.

00:37:56	She discusses her emergence as a national figure and her increasing visibility as a speaker and leader of workshops. She talks about resistance to her focus on women’s philanthropy that she encountered in different forums.  Being on the forefront of significant changes in the field of philanthropy broadly.  “Baby boomer” attitudes about philanthropy.

00:42:41	MT discusses internal opposition at the Foundation.  She lists some of the supporters and detractors.  

00:44:10	She talks about getting “burned out” by trying to be so active at the national level.  Bringing other staff aboard to handle portions of the work.

00:46:01	She talks about branching into gay/lesbian and minority communities to promote philanthropy.  Working to reach “niche” groups.

00:47:21	The importance of self confidence. MT outlines how other organizations have used her writing as a foundation for starting their own women’s philanthropy initiatives.

00:49:21	Taylor talks about how the National Network for Women as Philanthropists grew.  Hosting a conference on women’s philanthropy at UW. Bringing together diverse organizations that work in the area of fund raising for women and girls. She talks about the Women’s Funding Network, set up in 1985.

00:52:26	MT explains how the Women’s Philanthropy Council was unique when it was established in 1988 and how other similar organizations were subsequently created at other universities.

00:54:13	She talks more about the women’s philanthropy conference in 1992.  She discusses some problems related to who was invited to the conference and lingering bad feelings.

00:58:38	Arrangements for the School of Human Ecology to take over writing the newsletter. Fundraising efforts to support the national group. 

01:02:36	End of Tape 7, Side 1.

01:02:59	Taylor talks about a lecture she gave at Purdue University and meeting a woman there who was planning to give $1 million.

01:05:27	She returns to her discussion of fund raising for the conference on women’s philanthropy.  MT and Ward went to Iowa to visit Maddie Levitt, who agreed to provide seed money to organize the conference.

01:09:40	She talks about working with reporters and publications to raise the profile of their organization.  Media interviews and publicity.

01:10:44	She talks about conducting experimental workshops and conferences.  She discusses some of the women at different universities who were involved in the effort.  Teaching philanthropic advising to development professionals.

01:17:17	MT discusses a training program at the Foundation where an outside consulting firm was brought in to talk about philanthropic advising.  She points out that the training was similar to what her workshops have been teaching.

01:18:20	Taylor talks about why she and Ward decided to write a book on women in philanthropy.  The need for a seminal work on the topic.  

01:20:41	She decided not to return to the Foundation full time, but spent her extra time on the book.  She also talks about some non-UW volunteer and committee work she has done. She talks about her own philanthropic giving.  She talks about the personal challenge to meet all of the obligations.

01:24:50	Taylor discusses some early changes in the organization and how new leadership emerged. The group was rebranded as the Women’s Philanthropy Institute.

01:27:04	She mentions a significant grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies that funded some important projects through 2004.  Setting up a board of directors and trying to recruit more donors for the board. She talks about merging WPI into the Center for Philanthropy.  

01:29:42	She talks about her recent efforts to train new leaders who will carry on her philanthropic work.

01:30:25	She discusses the two books that she has written with Shaw.  The book was well received and won several awards.  Invitations to speak.

01:32:13	She talks about their influence on the development profession.  The United Way’s women’s philanthropy initiatives.  Women’s Funds and major gifts.  Women’s Giving Circles.

01:34:04	End of Tape 7, Side 2. 

01:34:36	Taylor continues to discuss some of the results of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute’s activities.  Creating networks and maximizing opportunities for fund raisers and donors to meet. She talks about some significant women leaders at other institutions and groups.

01:36:15	She discusses the difficulty that she used to have getting women’s philanthropy issues discusses at CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.  “Sub-meetings.”

01:37:21	She talks about the importance of Cate Muther.  She talks about being invited to speak at Stanford, and donating her $5000 speaker’s fee to the WPI. She talks about giving talks to various groups to raise money for WPI. Anecdote about Cate Muther and Stanford. 

01:43:56	MT describes leaders in the field who did not understand what she and others aimed to do.
	
01:45:15	MT talks about the development of Cabinet 99 in the UW Alumni Association.  She explains the controversy that emerged in the early 1990s because the program did not focus its efforts on philanthropy.  Cabinet 99 gives awards to outstanding female faculty, but has very little other activity.

01:49:10	She gives some examples of how her organization has formed links with other UW organizations to increase its visibility and political clout.

01:50:49	She continues to discuss some limitations of the Cabinet 99 program in terms of publicity and fund raising.

01:52:32	She discusses the issue of fundraising in women’s organizations on other campuses.  Some groups that work for women’s programs do not want to be involved in fund raising.

01:55:01	MT relates the story of the New York group of the WFC.  She explains that Bob Lange was engaged to recruit some women from the New York area to become involved with the organization.  She talks about concerns within the Foundation about expenses. 
 
01:57:34	She talks about the eagerness of the New York women to work on fund raising programs.  She recounts opposition from within the Foundation bureaucracy.

02:00:12	Disagreements over the issue of getting younger alumni involved with the program.  She explains that the New York group missed out on the economic boom of the 1990s because they were not active enough. 

02:02:08	She talks about having a geographic representative for the Foundation in New York.

02:03:49	Taylor discusses the problems she had trying to balance her activities for the UW and for the national organization.  

02:05:20	End of Tape 8, Side 1.

02:05:42	Taylor talks about the future of the Women’s Philanthropy Council and the “edgy” issues they are currently working on.  The problem of raising the visibility of the WPC and getting more involved in women’s issues on campus.  She talks about plans to create a case statement that will organize giving opportunities for potential donors.  

02:08:31	Replicating the New York Group in other cities.  MT has been working to establish ties in Los Angeles.  Others are working in St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee and other places.

02:10:54	She discusses the annual magazine created by the WPC.  It costs $17,000 per year to publish.  Recent events hosted by the group. 

02:12:58	She talks about the major gifts of John and Tashia Morgridge and the Morgridge Foundation.  She talks about her admiration for Tashia Morgridge and her philosophy on philanthropy.  

02:17:30	MT shares an anecdote about a talk Morgridge gave and her concept of the “two headed llama.”  

02:20:00	MT talks about the Foundation Board of Directors.  They are not generally that supportive of women’s issues and much of the important work takes place outside of formal meetings.

02:21:58	She talks about Lorna Wentz of the New York Women’s Council.  Her significant in the world of philanthropy.  Their shared religious values. Kristine Lodewik of the NY Women’s Council.  Her minority scholarship in the School of Education.

02:24:32	She talks about Ruth Brown and Linda Stern.  

02:28:30	Taylor discusses some of the significant issues that face women’s philanthropy currently.  She believes there will always be a need for a specific women’s giving program.  

02:29:50	The Giving Circle, which allows women to pool their money to make a major gift. Promoting family philanthropy education.  She discusses the importance of relationship building in philanthropy.

02:33:03	End of Tape 8, Side 2. 

02:33:18	Taylor talks about Chancellor Ed Young and his skill as a communicator.  Irv Shain’s skill as a policy-maker.  She talks about these men’s involvement with the Foundation’s activities.

02:35:59	MT discusses Donna Shalala and her lack of skill as a personal communicator.  Her skill as a public speaker.  Taylor says that Shalala was not a supporter of Taylor’s efforts.  The revitalization of the Athletic Department.  She describes Shalala’s contribution to the academic mission of the UW as “poor.”

02:38:40	She lists some of the significant Deans around campus in the 1990. 

02:40:04	She talks about Chancellor David Ward.  She feels that the Foundation made “great progress” during the Ward years.

02:42:06	Taylor discusses John Wiley and his contribution to the Foundation.  His easy-going personality.  The reception of Ward and Wiley by alumni groups.  

02:45:10	MT talks about the $20 million gift by the Chazen family.  Changing the name of the Elvehjem Museum.

02:49:12	Taylor discusses the fund raising and building of Grainger Hall, home of the School of Business.  She explains that the School of Business alumni approached the state legislature to ask for funding to supplement their fund raising.  This created the precedent of the legislature expecting all new building on campus to be partly funded by private donations. She mentions other building projects stalled because private funds were not readily available. 

02:53:46	MT discusses the significant cutback in state funding for the UW in general.  The public anti-tax attitude and the decline of “the common good.”

02:57:30	She talks about the fact that the constant tuition increases are detrimental to UW and to public access to higher education.  

02:58:45	She points out that some of the members of the Foundation’s board are significant financial backers or conservative legislators who cut assistance to the UW.  John Wiley’s attempts to raise the issue.  

03:01:25	Raising money for non-business or engineering projects.  The Create the Future campaign.

03:04:13	End of Tape 9, Side 1.

03:04:33	Taylor talks about the senior leadership team at the Foundation.  The Faculty- Staff campaign that raised approximately $44 million.

03:07:28	She talks about the generosity of the UW faculty and staff and their significance as a base for fund raising.  Some significant faculty gifts.

03:13:01	MT discuses the lack of success in funding cross-disciplinary programs.  The lack of an alumni base and public awareness and support.

03:14:32	Current leadership of the Foundation and its board. 

03:16:34	Taylor shares her thoughts on the philosophy of the UW Foundation and its role in the UW community.  The Wisconsin Idea.  The legacy of the WPC.

02:20:02	She points out that the strength of the UW Foundation is ultimately based on the strength of the university.  

03:21:55	She discusses the Foundation’s self-evaluation process 5-6 years ago.  Writing a new value statement.

03:25:09	End of Tape 9, Side 2.  End of Interview.

END