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href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/about/board-of-directors/">BOARD OF DIRECTORS</a><a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/about/executive-management/">EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT</a><a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/about/staff/">STAFF</a><a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/about/advisors/">ADVISORS</a><a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/about/faqs/">FAQs</a></nav> </aside> <div class="content"> <header> <h1>HISTORY & MISSION</h1> </header> <div class="description"> <p>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200806134641/http://www.snf.org/en/newsroom/news/2018/04/the-snf-in-3-minutes/">Stavros Niarchos Foundation</a> (SNF) is one of the world’s leading private, international philanthropic organizations, making grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. SNF funds organizations and projects worldwide that aim to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact for greater society, and exhibit strong leadership and sound management. The Foundation also supports projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as an effective means for serving public welfare.</p> <p>Since 1996, the Foundation has committed more than <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200806134641/http://www.snf.org/en/grants/grant-allocation/">$3 billion</a> through over 4,700 grants to nonprofit organizations, in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200806134641/http://www.snf.org/en/grants/world-map-of-grants/">132 nations around the world</a>.</p> <p><em><strong>This is who we are</strong></em><iframe width="711" height="400" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200806134641if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/ucWryWh_d6k" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The SNF regularly makes grants around the world.</p> <p>Some of the Foundation’s international landmark gifts include the following:</p> <p>In 2016, the SNF announced the commitment of $150 million to establish the <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/other/snf-agora-institute/" title="SNF AGORA INSTITUTE">Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University</a> (JHU) in Baltimore, MD, US. This multidisciplinary center will debate, explore and promote civil discourse and civic engagement worldwide. Once a year, as part of the Foundation’s Summer Nostos Festival and International Conference, the SNF Agora Institute holds an open, public event at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), in Athens, Greece.</p> <p>The SNF’s gift to JHU follows another landmark gift of $75 million to Rockefeller University, a world-renowned academic and medical research institution, in New York, NY, US, to create a new and expanded university campus, the <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/other/the-stavros-niarchos-foundation-–-david-rockefeller-river-campus/" title="The Stavros Niarchos Foundation – David Rockefeller River Campus">Stavros Niarchos Foundation-David Rockefeller River Campus (SNF-DR)</a>, which opened in May 2019.<br/><br/>In keeping with the Foundation’s long-standing and extensive commitment to libraries worldwide, the SNF has also announced a transformational gift of $55 million for the complete renovation of New York Public Library’s Mid-Manhattan Central Circulating Branch and the creation of an endowment in support of its public programs. The library re-opened in July 2020 as the <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/other/stavros-niarchos-foundation-library-(snfl)-at-nypl/" title="Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) at NYPL">Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)</a>.</p> <p>In April 2020, building on the Foundation’s longstanding focus on health and commitment to supporting organizations that serve the most vulnerable populations, SNF announced a <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/newsroom/news/2020/04/snf-global-relief-initiative-to-help-alleviate-the-effects-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/" title="SNF Global Relief Initiative to Help Alleviate the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic">$100 million global initiative</a> to help alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.<br/><br/>In Greece, some of the SNF’s landmark gifts, include:<br/><br/>Three nearly complete major grant initiatives totaling approximately $380 million, in addition to its ongoing grants (<a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/grants-against-the-greek-crisis/" title="GRANTS AGAINST THE GREEK CRISIS">Grants Against the Greek Crisis</a> & <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/recharging-the-youth/" title="RECHARGING THE YOUTH">Recharging the Youth</a>), to respond to urgent local needs by providing relief against the severe effects of the country’s socioeconomic crisis.</p> <p>In September 2017, the SNF announced a new grant initiative to expand its support of the Health sector in Greece, with a budget expected to exceed $400 million. Since 1996, the SNF has already provided grants of more than $145 million for the support of health programs in Greece. As part of the new <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/supporting-greeces-health-sector/" title="SUPPORTING GREECE'S HEALTH SECTOR">Health Initiative</a>, the SNF will fully fund major infrastructure projects throughout the country, all designed by the renowned architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop. This new grant also aims at enhancing the National Center for Emergency Care’s (EKAV) air ambulance services, and includes the procurement of new medical equipment and the implementation of education-related programs as well. On March 21st, 2018, the SNF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Greek State regarding the implementation of the grant initiative.</p> <p>The SNF’s largest single gift to date is the <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/snfcc/" title="SNFCC">Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center</a> (SNFCC), in Athens, Greece. The project’s total cost exceeded $860 million. The SNFCC was also designed by Renzo Piano and the RPBW, and includes the new home facilities of the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera, as well as the Stavros Niarchos Park. The Foundation delivered the SNFCC to Greek Society on February 23, 2017. Following the handover, the SNF announced its commitment to continue supporting the SNFCC for five years, through grants of $53 million that support the implementation of public programming and help cover a portion of SNFCC’s operational costs. All events funded with the SNF’s support are free to the public.</p> <p>Every year, the SNF organizes the <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/summer-nostos-festival/" title="SUMMER NOSTOS FESTIVAL">Summer Nostos Festival</a> and its <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/snf-conference/" title="SNF ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE">Annual International Conference</a>, which take place at the SNFCC. In addition, the SNF has launched the monthly series of events entitled <a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/initiatives/snf-dialogues/" title="SNF DIALOGUES">Dialogues</a>, in an effort to strengthen public discourse by presenting—live and online—individuals who inspire with their work.<br/><br/><a href="/web/20200806134641/https://www.snf.org/en/about/snf-awards/" title="SNF AWARDS"><strong>AWARDS & HONORS</strong></a></p> <p>The SNF does not engage in any business activity in Greece or abroad, and it is audited by Deloitte. 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