The modern American foundation as an instrumentality for charitable and philanthropic giving is in many ways a unique and complex social/economic/political institution. This is particularly the case for foundations with large assets. As a social phenomenon, the foundation has deep roots in the past. At the beginnings of any degree of civilization charitable giving and rudimentary forms of foundations emerge. This is the case in many regions of the world. The pattern is consistent: once enough property or wealth beyond primitive human needs is accumulated, some of it begins to be set aside...

This book provides historical sketches of the most significant national and international learned societies and academies located outside the United States. Complementing Joseph Kiger's Research Institutions and Learned Societies, which covers the United States, this volume includes profiles, arranged alphabetically, on some 100 organizations located in fifty-three countries.

Each profile provides comprehensive, uniform, up-to-date information, including founding, history, purpose, activities, governance, current operations, and location of offices and archives, on the subject society....