From its earliest days in Philadelphia to the global NGO that it is today, The Pew Charitable Trusts has sought to improve people’s lives and help communities thrive. Here are highlights from the past 75 years:
1940s-50s
1948
Creation of The Pew Memorial Foundation
Support of the American Red Cross
Support for the Institute for Cancer Research (now part of Fox Chase Cancer Center)
Support for the American Biblical Society
Support for Grove City College
Support for Lankenau Hospital
1949
Begins longstanding support for historically black colleges and universities
1957
Creation of the Pew Memorial Trust, Mary Anderson Trust, and J. Howard Pew Freedom Trust
1960s-70s
1963
J.N. Pew Jr. Charitable Trust activated
1965
Knollbrook Trust created
1972
Mabel Pew Myrin Trust activated
1974
Pew begins funding environmental projects; among the first grants are to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
1976
Supports Scheie Eye Institute
1978
Begins initiating projects, rather than simply accepting grant applications, following a new strategic vision
1979
Medical Trust created
1980s-90s
1985
Announces the Health Care for the Homeless program, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Announces first class of Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
1990
Launches the Pew Latin American Fellows Program in the Biomedical Sciences
1991
Launches Pew Fund for Health and Human Services to continue assistance to vulnerable Philadelphia families
1998
Establishes Pew Center on the States through the University of Richmond
1999
Creates Pew Internet & American Life Project
2000s-10s
2000
Launches Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
2001
Helps to establish the ocean advocacy organization Oceana
Independence Visitor Center opens in Philadelphia
2002
Pew becomes a public charity
2003
Pew Oceans Commission issues recommendations to protect the ocean
Constitution Center opens in Philadelphia
The Liberty Bell opens to the public at a new location
2004
Pew Research Center established
2005
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage begins support for cultural organizations and artists in the Philadelphia region through project grants
2006
Begins Economic Mobility project to gather data on the ability of Americans to move up the economic ladder
Creates the Public Safety Performance Project to help states use research-based, fiscally sound policies in their corrections work and sentencing
Papahānaumokuākea marine protected area established with Pew support
Begins Global Ocean Legacy project
Launches Canadian boreal forest project
2007
Begins Australian conservation work
2008
Creates Philadelphia Research Initiative to provide timely data on the city’s social and economic issues
Launches the Voter Information Project, an online initiative that would go on to provide information 123 million times during the 2016 election
2011
Passage of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, first overhaul of the nation’s food safety laws since the Great Depression
2012
Barnes Foundation opens to the public in its new location on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway after Pew provides support
2013
Benjamin Franklin Museum opens
2014
Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research launched
2016
World’s largest marine protected area, in the Ross Sea, is created with Pew support
2017
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau begins regulating pay and auto loan titles for the first time
Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy partnership launched
2020s
2021
Launches the Blue Nature Alliance, a partnership working to conserve 6.9 million square miles of ocean
2022
Enduring Earth, a collaborative effort by Pew and other partners, begins to help governments, Indigenous peoples, and local communities protect lands and waters essential to the future of the planet and humanity
