The
Humphrey Foundation is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to increase public health, scientific research, international understanding and charitable organizing. Originally founded as the
Hubert H. Humphrey Foundation by backers of the then-vice president during his 1968 campaign, the foundation grew in importance after Humphrey's election. During Humphrey's presidency, the "Happy Warrior" began to accumulate projects he intended his foundation to address during his post-presidency, but his death in office made him unable to fulfill those ambitions. Renamed shortly before its namesake's death, the Humphrey Foundation has worked for nearly fifty years to improve the state of scientific research, public health and spread international goodwill and understanding through grants, scholarships, education and funding to promote less-prominent charitable organizations.
Since President Humphrey's death, the Humphrey family has maintained active involvement in the foundation, and the president's son and former governor Hubert "Skip" Humphrey III has been the chief executive officer (CEO) since his retirement from politics. The Humphrey Foundation's partnership with the University of Minnesota has also set the trend for former presidents to associate either their presidential libraries or charitable organizations with their alma maters (as is the case with presidents Dole, Huddleston and Riley) or prominent universities in their state (such as former presidents Bush and Gephardt).
The bent for social justice and protection of human dignity that the Humphrey family has advocated has soaked through into the foundation (whose slogan itself alludes to then-Mayor Humphrey's speech beseeching the Democratic Party to stand for civil rights) and its activities. Its direct and indirect efforts to promote civil rights in both the United States and abroad have led to historians considering it one of the most active components to the Humphrey legacy, alongside affirmative action programs for low-income students, universal health care, worker safety laws, and environmental regulations.
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