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DIRECTOR 
FREDERICK MULDER
One of TFN's founding Directors
and Chair
 Although I'm Canadian,
I've lived in the UK since 1968, when I came over to finish my PhD in
Philosophy. Fully intending to go back to Canada and teach university
when I got my degree, I instead started a business in London dealing in
original prints (etchings, engravings, lithographs, and woodcuts). The
business went well from the start, and while I loved (and still love)
the business I was also aware that the world had many injustices, and
I developed the habit of tithing to projects that addressed those issues.
Although there were many generous people in the art world, I didn't actually
know anyone else who was giving to projects addressing the kinds of issues
I was concerned about, particularly abroad, and I made a number of mistakes
early on. Fortunately, I got involved with a group of like-minded people,
with whom I learned how much more interesting it was to have a peer group
of givers to talk things over with, and how much further my limited funds
went when pooled with those of other people.
I've come to realise over the years that giving, like many other
activities, is more interesting, more satisfying, and probably more
competent, if it is done in the company of other people. The money
also seems to go further! Also, most giving is done in response
to an appeal, sometimes received in the post, sometimes from someone
you know, and what I think is so good about an organisation like
TFN is that it belongs to the donors. By choosing to be proactive
and thinking about what we want to support, we take responsibility
for the process; by inviting organisations to come and present to
us, by raising the questions we think are important, we also take
responsibility for the outcome of our meetings, and I think this
makes us more generous. For me, TFN has made the experience of giving
a whole lot more interesting; there's nothing quite like hearing
the story of someone's work and realizing I can do something to
help make it happen.
Frederick Mulder was the winner of the Judges' Special Beacon Fellowship
Prize. March 2004. http://www.beaconfellowship.org.uk/2004_winners.asp
OTHER DIRECTORS BIOS
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