Patricia Tynan Chapman

President, Harden Foundation

Welcome to the Harden Foundation website and I hope you find the information and links to resources interesting, informative and useful. In 1963, Gene and Ercia Harden started the Harden Foundation with a vision that their hard work and good fortunes would be able to help their community and its citizens far into the future beyond their own existence. The Board of Directors has sustained the Harden’s insight and has remained attentive of the duty to be financially prudent in order for the foundation to operate into perpetuity.

Looking toward the future, we find ourselves well positioned to continue our support of Monterey County nonprofit organizations. The Harden Foundation takes great pride in being able to react quickly to the requests of these nonprofit organizations as they face the day to day tribulations of operating programs and providing services in our communities. The board continually examines various financial models in order to be in the best economic position to provide grants to support programs and projects that benefit the people of Monterey County.

The Harden Foundation has strived to keep a proper diversity of investments in order to maintain a strong financial position. The mix of our assets changes as we sell our real estate and invest the proceeds in various types of securities under the direction of competent counselors. We receive guidance from nine firms, each having responsibility for a segment of our portfolio. They abide by the goals established by the Board of Directors of the Harden Foundation. This results in a strong and diversified group of securities. The Board regularly reviews the activity of these investments and compares the results with selected standards. We maintain a strong cash position to respond quickly to the approved grant requests.

We also provide access to a variety of meeting areas and venues on the Harden Estate property. The goal is to provide a venue where people from the nonprofit community can come together to brainstorm, communicate and share knowledge that will make each of them a stronger organization in providing the maximum amount of services to our community. The estate, particularly the Bunkhouse Conference Room, enhances the capacity, leadership and management of nonprofit organizations in their efforts to serve their communities in a more effective way. We take pride in serving the nonprofit organizations in Monterey County and we hope to continue to develop other resources that will benefit and aid them in their missions to serve our local communities.

Patricia Tynan Chapman
President
Harden Foundation