Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation
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| Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Name | Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation |
| Type | Nonprofit foundation |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Coretta Scott King |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Area served | United States |
| Key people | Coretta Scott King; Harry E. Johnson; Roger G. Kennedy |
| Mission | Commemorate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., promote civil rights and social justice |
Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation was established to create a national memorial honoring Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. The foundation connected leaders from the Civil Rights Movement, cultural institutions, philanthropic organizations, and government agencies to plan, fund, and build the memorial near the Tidal Basin and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. It engaged stakeholders including elected officials, civic leaders, and artistic communities to realize a public monument reflecting King's legacy.
History and Founding
The foundation traces its origins to initiatives led by Coretta Scott King, who engaged figures such as members of the King family, leaders from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and supporters from institutions like the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution. Early supporters included politicians from the United States Senate, noted civil rights activists, historians associated with Howard University and Morehouse College, and cultural leaders from the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress. The project navigated approvals involving the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the United States Commission of Fine Arts, while coordinating with the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and bureaucrats from the Department of the Interior. During planning, the foundation consulted architects connected to the American Institute of Architects and sculptors with ties to the National Sculpture Society.
Mission and Goals
The foundation articulated goals emphasizing commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. and promotion of nonviolent activism associated with figures like Ralph Abernathy, Bayard Rustin, and John Lewis. It framed objectives in dialogue with civil rights organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Educational partners included universities like Georgetown University, Columbia University, and Duke University, while cultural partners included the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Folklife Center. The mission highlighted public history collaborations with the National Archives and Records Administration, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Fundraising and Financing
Fundraising marshaled support from corporations such as Ford Motor Company, Bank of America, and Wachovia Corporation, philanthropic foundations including the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and private donors from sectors represented by AT&T, ExxonMobil, and Verizon Communications. The foundation launched campaigns engaging celebrities tied to social causes including partnerships with performers who had worked with United Service Organizations events and benefit concerts at venues like the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Madison Square Garden. Significant public fundraising involved appeals to city councils in Atlanta, Georgia—home to Morehouse College—and coordination with committees of the United States Congress to secure permits and recognition. Financial oversight drew on accounting firms with experience serving nonprofits that had worked for institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brookings Institution.
Design and Construction of the Memorial
The memorial’s design process included architects and sculptors reviewed by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, with site planning sensitive to proximity to the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Sculptors and design firms with ties to the American Society of Landscape Architects competed in selection processes reminiscent of commissions for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Contractors were licensed in the District of Columbia and coordinated with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service for construction logistics. Stonework involved quarries with histories of supplying projects like the United States Supreme Court Building and collaborations with firms experienced on projects such as the National World War II Memorial.
Dedication and Public Reception
The memorial’s dedication attracted national leaders including presidents from the United States, members of the United States Congress, civil rights figures like Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young, and cultural icons who had participated in commemorative events at the Avery Fisher Hall and the Lincoln Center. Media coverage from outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and National Public Radio documented public ceremonies attended by delegations from international partners including representatives from South Africa and delegations from human rights groups like Amnesty International. Public reception involved critiques and commentary from art historians at institutions such as the Getty Research Institute and sociologists affiliated with Princeton University and Harvard University.
Governance and Organizational Structure
The foundation established a governance model with a board including civic leaders from Atlanta, corporate executives, legal counsel with backgrounds in nonprofit law, and representatives from the King family. Governance practices referenced standards promoted by the Council on Foundations and the National Council of Nonprofits, while engaging auditors and advisors with ties to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The organizational chart included development directors, legal teams familiar with the Department of Justice's nonprofit regulations, and liaisons to federal agencies such as the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior.
Education, Outreach, and Programs
Educational initiatives partnered with academic institutions including Spelman College, Morehouse College, Emory University, and Howard University for curricula, fellowships, and public lectures. Outreach involved collaboration with civil rights organizations including Sisters in the Brotherhood initiatives, youth programs through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and civic engagement efforts with groups like Common Cause. Programming included symposia featuring scholars from Rutgers University and University of California, Berkeley, concerts curated with the National Symphony Orchestra, and commemorative events tied to observances such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and anniversaries of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.