Edward Larocque Tinker (1881-1968) created the Tinker Foundation in 1959 in memory of his wife, father, and grandfather. He partnered closely with the Foundation’s first President, Martha Muse, a visionary and trailblazing leader in her own right, to bring it to life. A recipient of PhDs in literature from the University of Paris and the University of Madrid, Dr. Tinker devoted his life to exploring Hispanic culture in Latin America and building relationships with artists, writers, and policymakers.

The first major program initiated by the Foundation, the Tinker Visiting Professorships, embodies his interpersonal approach. Five universities were endowed with funds to host prominent Latin American scholars, artists, and practitioners on campus. In 1979, the Foundation introduced its Field Research Grants program, which enabled graduate students in U.S. universities to gain early research experience in Latin America. At its 40th anniversary in 2019, more than 9,000 graduate students from 45 universities around the U.S. had participated, and many pursued careers focused on Latin America in the academic, non-profit, and public sectors. Today, the program has evolved into the Tinker Field Research Collaborative, which is designed to deepen students’ field research experience and create a learning community among the selected Centers.

These programs reflect the Foundation’s longstanding commitment to promoting research about Latin America, fostering academic exchange, and investing in promising leaders across the hemisphere.

With time, the Foundation’s approach has evolved to address key issues more directly in the region through grantmaking to institutions. The Foundation’s initial programs included demographic education and information, social science research, community development, and higher education.

In recent years, the Foundation has directed more of its grants to civil society organizations based in Latin America responding to and investing in the vision of local actors who are charting a path forward for their countries and region. One notable example has been Tinker’s support for the Latin American pro bono legal movement over the last twenty years, championed by Tinker’s second President, Renate Rennie. As part of that initiative, Tinker provided support to lawyers and advocates across the region who seek to strengthen access to justice by mobilizing the talent and time of the private bar in their countries.

Today, the Foundation’s Institutional Grants are focused on democratic governance, education, and sustainable management of natural resources.