Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions are frequently asked about the Markle Foundation:
- Who established the Markle Foundation and why?
- What is the common link between Health and National Security?
- How is Markle a catalyst for change?
- Why is the public-private collaboration so important?
- What kind of deliverables does Markle produce? Who are the intended audiences?
- Where can I find a list of Markle publications, presentations, reports, and speeches?
- What are Markle's policies for the re-use of content found on Markle websites?
- What is the Markle Weekly Digest? Can anyone subscribe to it?
- How can I apply to receive a grant from the Markle Foundation?
- How can my organization become a partner in one of your current projects?
- Where can I find Markle's 990 IRS tax forms?
Who established the Markle Foundation and why?
John and Mary Markle established the Foundation in 1927, "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge among the people of the United States, and to promote the general good of mankind." Over the years and with each successive leader, the focus of the Foundation's work has undergone increasingly innovative refinements without ever straying from John and Mary Markle's original vision of creating a better world through the advancement and dissemination of knowledge.
What is the common link between Health and National Security?
The "connective tissue" between these two seemingly unrelated concerns is information technology.
When technology is woven into the fabric of institutions that serve and protect people, information becomes a powerful tool for addressing critical public needs and empowering individuals to improve their lives.
Markle works with many collaborators from the public and private sectors to promote the development of new technologies to achieve two principal goals:
- To strengthen our nation's security while protecting the civil liberties of its citizens.
- To modernize our complex and over-burdened health care system while preserving personal privacy and improving people’s health.
In each of these areas, we know that the effective and appropriate use of information technology can—and does—save lives. We also know that our nation's goals in both of these areas cannot be met without applying advancements in technology, and that the development of new technologies must be guided by carefully deliberated policies.
Building Trusted Information-Sharing Environments for National Security and Health Care
How is Markle a catalyst for change?
The Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age has comprised a panel of security experts from the past six presidential administrations, as well as numerous thought leaders from both the private and public sectors. Markle Task Force members' expertise has encompassed technology, government, industry, policy development, and civil liberties. The federal government has used the Markle Task Force's recommendations for building a trusted information environment to enact many important reforms through legislation and executive order.
Connecting for Health has been a public-private collaborative of government, industry, technology, consumer, and health care leaders. This collaborative has worked to catalyze the widespread changes needed to realize the full potential of health information technology, while protecting patient privacy and the security of personal health information.
Current Work in National Security | Current Work in Health
Why is the public-private collaboration so important?
Markle has demonstrated that bringing together the knowledge and experience of the public and private sectors can provide a formula for progress. This strategy has proven successful in finding common ground and building consensus and promoting innovation among a broad spectrum of experts in government, industry, and the non-profit sector.
What kind of deliverables does Markle produce? Who are the intended audiences?
Markle and its collaborators produce numerous reports, multimedia and interactive presentations, articles, and briefs of interest to a wide range of audiences, including but not limited to the following:
- Policy-Makers and Regulators
- Consultants
- Legal Experts
- Decision-Makers in the Public Sector (e.g., government agencies and the organizations they contract to provide services to the public)
- Legislators and Regulatory Agencies at the Local, State, and Federal Level
- Technology Developers and Implementers
- Industry Experts (e.g., Health Care Providers and Insurers, Energy Companies, Homeland Security Contractors)
- Public Interest Advocates and Representatives
- Academics, Researchers, Analysts, and Think-Tanks
Where can I find a list of Markle publications, presentations, reports, and speeches?
A searchable and sortable list of publications and presentations is available in the Publications section of this Web site.
What are Markle's policies for the re-use of content found on Markle websites?
The Markle documents posted on this Web site exist to serve our mission to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge. You are free to read the documents online or download them for your own reference. You may also create links to our materials on your own Web site or social networks.
If you are interested in reprinting, redistributing, or referencing any portion of our work in your own publications, please contact us at [email protected] for permissions, attribution language, or additional information.
What is the Markle Weekly Digest? Can anyone subscribe to it?
The Weekly Digest is published online every Friday by [email protected]. It provides news excerpts from around the world regarding information and communications technologies related to Internet security, privacy, and health care.
You may download or read the Weekly Digest anytime from the link provided on our home page. You may also subscribe to the Weekly Digest.
How can I apply to receive a grant from the Markle Foundation?
We have found that the most effective way for us to leverage our resources is to structure and operate our own projects in cooperation with our partners, instead of working as a traditional grant-making organization. Therefore, we do not accept unsolicited grant applications.
How can my organization become a partner in one of your current projects?
Markle's approach entails convening multi-sector groups of leaders and innovators from technology, government, public interest organizations, and business to bring about the technical and policy changes needed to enable breakthroughs in the public interest. We seek out partners who can make valuable contributions toward achieving our common goals.
Please review the descriptions provided on our Health and National Security pages, or contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Where can I find Markle's 990 IRS tax forms?
The forms are available here: Tax Forms