Our History

The Fannie Mae Foundation has an impressive, active history. Since 1979, the Foundation has invested more than $1 billion in programs and grants to increase the supply of affordable homes nationwide and to improve the quality of life in our hometown, Washington, D.C.

The Fannie Mae Foundation was on the forefront of the nation's most pressing affordable housing issues for nearly 30 years. Below are examples of the tremendous impact the Fannie Mae Foundation had on the revitalization of American cities and neighborhoods year after year.

2006

• The Fannie Mae Foundation funds the printing of the Louisiana Pattern Book — a reference guide of building designs and materials to enable people in Louisiana to rebuild following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
• The Fannie Mae Foundation raises $8 million through the 19th Annual Help the Homeless Program

2005

• The Fannie Mae Foundation raises $7.8 million through the 18th Annual Help the Homeless Program
• The Fannie Mae Foundation launches DataPlace, a Web site that is designed to offer a one-stop source for housing and demographic data on any location throughout the United States

2004

• The Fannie Mae Foundation grants $1 million for the Washington Area Women's Foundation's Women and Families Financial Independence Initiative
• The Fannie Mae Foundation helps the D.C. government launch the Read Out Loud public awareness campaign, which reaches out to adult learners in the Washington metropolitan area
• The Fannie Mae Foundation raises $6.5 million through the 17th Annual Help the Homeless Program Since the start of our consumer outreach efforts in 1993, more than 17 million guides have been distributed

2003

• Washington Business Journal names the Fannie Mae Foundation the leading corporate philanthropist in the Washington metropolitan area
• The Fannie Mae Foundation raises $6.5 million through the 16th Annual Help the Homeless Program

2002

• The Fannie Mae Foundation raises $6.2 million through the 15th Annual Help the Homeless Program
• The Fannie Mae Foundation releases Growing your Money, a curriculum to help people realize their dreams by learning financial skills that will help them make informed financial decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities

2001

• The Fannie Mae Foundation awards $34.8 million in grants
• The Fannie Mae Foundation raises $6.1 million through the 14th Annual Help the Homeless Program
• The Fannie Mae Foundation launches KnowledgePlex®, a Web site bringing together diverse opinions to explore solutions to affordable housing and community development issues, and to promote more enriched innovation and credibility in the field

2000

• The Fannie Mae Foundation awards $34.7 million in grants
• The Fannie Mae Foundation raises $5.5 million through the 13th Annual Help the Homeless Program
• The Fannie Mae Foundation launches Housin’ 2000 in conjunction with the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a project designed to engage young people in the Washington metropolitan area in the fight to end homelessness through age-appropriate educational materials

1999

• A multilingual Web site, www.homebuyingguide.org, allows consumers to download the Fannie Mae Foundation home-buying guides in nine languages
• The "Your Credit Matters" campaign provides information on the importance of establishing good credit
• A partnership is established with TransUnion to provide free credit reports
• The first James A. Johnson Community Fellows start bringing new insight and leadership skills to nonprofit community development organizations

1998

• The Fannie Mae Foundation awards $32.7 million in grants
• The Fannie Mae Foundation forms outreach partnership with BET and Univision to raise African-American and Hispanic homeownership awareness
• New Americans guide is distributed to 365,000 immigrants
• Franklin D. Raines is elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fannie Mae Foundation

1997

• Foundation Research Standards Board is formed
• Sustained Excellence Awards program is created
• $26 million in grants is distributed
• University-Community Partnership Initiative program is established

1996

• The Fannie Mae Foundation awards $17.5 million in grants
• 65,000 people attend 13 home-buying fairs nationwide
• Opening Doors outreach campaign is launched nationally

1995

• Fannie Mae commits $350 million in common stock to restructure the Fannie Mae Foundation and expand programs
• More than 66 percent of grantmaking is dedicated to housing and community development ($9.9 million)
• 21 program-related investments are made, totaling $2.175 million

1994

• The Fannie Mae Foundation makes a three-year, $30 million commitment to housing initiatives
• Program-related investment fund is established to provide low-interest loans for housing projects and programs

1993

• The Fannie Mae Foundation grants $1 million to the United States Holocaust Museum
• Home Team is established to provide volunteer assistance and financial support, and increase public awareness of the need for affordable housing

1992

• The Fannie Mae Foundation supports the expansion of 24 housing counseling programs across the nation

• The Fannie Mae Foundation commits more than 50 percent of grants for programs that support housing, community development, and social concerns

1990

• WAVE (We Are Volunteer Employees) program is established to assist employees in finding volunteer activities and to recognize them for their contributions

1989

• James A. Johnson is elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fannie Mae Foundation

1988

• The first Help the Homeless Walkathon is held, raising $90,000 for four nonprofits The Fannie Mae Foundation commits $1 million in scholarship funds during the next 10 years to the H.D. Woodson Senior High School Futures 500 Club

1984

• The Fannie Mae Foundation discusses designating a dollar amount to organizations "that effectively provide food and shelter for the needy"
  

1982

• David O. Maxwell is elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fannie Mae Foundation

1980

• The Fannie Mae Foundation's first grants are approved: Martin Luther King Center for Social Change (Atlanta), $5,000; Marshall Foundation, $5,000; Joint Center for Urban Studies (MIT-Harvard), $15,000

1979

• With an initial contribution of $600,000, the Fannie Mae Executive Committee establishes the Fannie Mae Foundation for the purpose of making charitable contributions