As I step down from my role as president of the Luce Foundation after five years, I reflect on the strategic shifts that have guided our journey. Central to this evolution has been refreshing our mission, vision, values, and commitments in 2023—a future-focused renewal still grounded in our history and deepening our dedication to inclusive knowledge-building. These shifts have reframed how we engage with the world, setting a bold course.

We refined our mission to emphasize fostering resilient communities, advancing knowledge, and supporting leaders championing justice, democracy, and inclusion. Our goal is to support diverse people and communities–from academic institutions to grassroots communities–to thrive, determining their best futures and working together to pursue knowledge and shared understanding. Our values emphasize collaboration, equity, and a belief that knowledge must be inclusive, dynamic, and rooted in human relationships.

Broadening Our View of Knowledge

Across all the programs of the Foundation, we have expanded our grantmaking strategies to recognize and embrace a broader range of knowledge-makers and creators. We seek to elevate varied voices and support the advancement and preservation of knowledge in its many and varied forms, because we believe deeply that we are all more likely to flourish when we embrace diverse ways of seeing and being.

Within the United States, our American Art Program’s 40th-anniversary virtual series empowered museums and arts organizations to reconsider accepted histories, foreground underrepresented voices, and welcome diverse collaborators into the dialogue. These conversations emphasized that knowledge is not static but evolves through inclusive, participatory exchanges. To promote anti-racist practices in arts institutions, the Museum Partnerships for Social Justice Initiative was launched, helping museums explore and implement these practices within their operations, reinforcing our commitment to reshaping the cultural landscape through more equitable, informed approaches.

In the Religion and Theology Program, we issued calls for new ideas that deepen public understanding and foster productive dialogue on critical issues like democracy, race, and religion.

Building on the Foundation’s long-standing focus on connections between the United States and the peoples, cultures, and communities of Asia, we increased and made more visible our support for projects enhancing understanding and knowledge of and about Asian American and Pacific Islander American communities, including grants to the AAPI education initiative at the University of California, Los Angeles, to create an online, open-access multimedia textbook and curriculum, bringing AAPI stories and perspectives to classrooms and homes. And, to help address the under-investment in and disenfranchisement of AAPI communities, we also partnered with the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund to strengthen community resilience, elevate AAPI voices, build narrative power, and improve civic engagement practices.

Our support for Indigenous leadership in the design and management of Bears Ears National Monument reflects our belief in the importance of Indigenous stewardship and knowledge in environmental conservation, blending ancestral wisdom with contemporary strategies for sustainability. We have also supported work to implement Indigenous human rights standards recognized under the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through our support of the Implementation Project, co-managed by the Native American Rights Fund and the University of Colorado Law School. In all, this work has invested in Indigenous people and organizations as they use their knowledge systems and ideas to solve their community challenges.

In addition, changes to the Clare Boothe Luce Program—which supports women in STEM—have freed up unrestricted institutional funding to enhance campus climates for women in science. Institutions will use these funds to launch mentorship programs, improve faculty training, or expand childcare, underscoring the need for environments where knowledge creation thrives across gender lines.

Over eighty years ago, Henry R. Luce recognized that a cohesive civil society enhances America’s international standing and drives innovation. This insight is still relevant today. This is why we began our newest initiative to support grantees working in the areas of Democracy, Ethics, and Public Trust, fostering collaboration among leaders dedicated to rebuilding trust and strengthening democratic values in the U.S. and beyond, helping to ensure that diverse perspectives drive ethical and democratic governance.

Linking Local and Global Perspectives

Henry R. Luce, born in China himself, also dedicated his life to expanding and deepening America’s understanding of and engagement with other cultures and nations. Thus, the Foundation’s commitment extends to understanding the connections between local and global issues. Through our Asia, Indigenous Knowledge, and Luce Scholars Programs, we support leaders and communities who seek bilateral and multilateral dialogue with global counterparts while strengthening our domestic social fabric.

Since its inception, the Foundation has supported grantees through its Asia Program. One example of the nature of this commitment is our Luce Initiative on Southeast Asia (LuceSEA), through which we have awarded over $15 million to support scholars and practitioners exploring Southeast Asia’s complex histories and cultures.

We also redesigned the Luce Scholars Program, which just celebrated its 50th year, broadening access for early-career leaders by eliminating institutional nomination requirements and expanding pathways for non-traditional students. This change aligns with our vision to open more pathways to democratize knowledge-sharing and foster connections across diverse fields of study.

Adapting to Changing Times

The pandemic highlighted the need for flexibility and adaptability in our strategies, underscoring that our understanding of knowledge must be dynamic. Although the future remains uncertain, the evolving nature of many issues requires us to approach them with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.

The Luce Foundation is ready to anticipate emerging challenges, particularly in higher education, democracy, and diversity. Our grantmaking efforts include supporting faculty across various institutions and PhD graduates pursuing careers outside traditional academic paths.

As I depart, I am inspired and encouraged by how our collective effort and your feedback have reinforced the importance of human needs and social values. It reminds us that knowledge is not just about facts but also about the connections and relationships that bind us. Whether generated in academia, communities, or through exploratory endeavors, knowledge reflects our drive to connect, share, and solve challenges.

These values are embedded in the Luce Foundation, and our staff and board are committed to continuing this journey of expanding and rethinking our understanding, setting the stage for an inclusive, connected, and insightful future.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, the Luce Foundation can embrace new challenges with renewed vision and resilience.