Since the creation of the J. Bulow Campbell Foundation in 1940, it has sought to honor his intentions for this important legacy. The Board has used and continues to use the principles set forth in Mr. Campbell’s Will as the most reliable source available to determine how best to reflect and honor his personal philosophy, his Christian beliefs, and his wishes for the perpetual stewardship of the funds he provided.

     The Foundation’s trustees also refer to what others knew about Mr. Campbell, drawing from numerous first-hand accounts, including those of his beloved daughter, Virginia Campbell Courts (1906 - 1995). Many of Mr. Campbell’s personal attributes are well-documented. While it is known that he was a modest person, never seeking recognition, the following selected passages provide insight to his character and approach to life, business, and philanthropy.

     “Mr. Campbell’s philosophy of life was rooted in an abiding faith in Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible, and his ethical standards were unaffected by contemporary associations or circumstances. His belief was steady, quiet and always modest, while his Christian example extended to all facets of his life. He was careful, frugal and industrious.”

     “Mr. Campbell had a keen sense of values: material, human and spiritual. He knew the interdependence of these values. He knew that to achieve stability and permanence, material values must be sustained and supported by spiritual values. Upon the foundation of such qualities, his success in life was built.”

     “Mr. Campbell’s allegiance to God, and his desire to serve his fellow man led him to consider himself a trustee of the things he had accumulated and possessed. During his life, he administered his affairs as a good trustee, using his talents and wealth to help institutions and causes that honor God and serve humanity.”

     “Although Mr. Campbell did not have a college degree, his own scholarly instincts led him to feel a deep concern for the development of strong educational institutions in Georgia and in the South, and he was convinced that only as these institutions were equipped to provide the right type of leadership could the economic, social and political problems of his native section [the South] be solved.”

     “There was rarely an assignation or display in connection with Mr. Campbell’s gifts. He believed in the spiritual injunction against sounding a trumpet before him as he did his alms, and in the case of almost every offer which he made, he attached the condition that his name should not be used.” The Foundation continues today to make grants without public recognition.

     “In all of his educational interests, Mr. Campbell believed in thorough business-like policies. He insisted on strict accounting and balanced budgets. He insisted on getting competitive bids for important items.” Today, the Foundation examines, among many factors, the financial and managerial strength of the institutions it considers supporting.

     The following verses were underscored in Mr. Campbell’s Bible. These words were often quoted by him in conversation with the members of his family, and he faithfully sought to embody their precepts in his own life and work:

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

I Timothy 6:17-19