The Vanguard Public Foundation was formed in 1972 as a grantmaking foundation to support left-of-center oriented programs. The organization’s nonprofit status was suspended when it was discovered that the previous president, Hari J. Dillon, diverted funds from the organization into his own account. ¹

1. “Former President and Executive Director of Vanguard Public Foundation Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Fraud and Money Laundering.” San Francisco Division. U.S. Department of Justice. 29 Jan. 2013. https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/sanfrancisco/press-releases/2013/former-president-and-executive-director-of-vanguard-public-foundation-sentenced-to-40-months-in-prison-for-fraud-and-money-laundering.