The Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy was established in 2001 to mark the centennial of Andrew Carnegie’s formal philanthropy. Medalists are nominated by all the Carnegie organizations throughout the United States and Europe, and selected by a Committee comprised of representatives of six of those institutions.

The Medal is awarded every two years to recognize individuals and families with exceptional and sustained records of philanthropic giving. Awardees’ philanthropic records embody Andrew Carnegie’s ideals that with wealth comes responsibility, and private wealth should serve the public good.

The Selection committee is composed of four permanent members—Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Carnegie Institution for Science, and the Carnegie Trusts for the Universities of Scotland—and two rotating members who join the committee each award cycle.

The 2009 Selection Committee is chaired by Vartan Gregorian. William Thomson, great grandson of Andrew Carnegie and Honorary Chair of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, serves as Honorary Chair of the Medal Selection Committee. The Committee’s members are: Andrew Miller, Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland; Richard Meserve, Carnegie Institution For Science; Nora Rundell, Carnegie Dunfermline Trust; David Hillenbrand, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh; and, Jessica Mathews, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Leaders from the 22 Carnegie organizations spend considerable effort to identify and nominate global philanthropic leaders.