The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a private non-profit foundation supporting programs across the United States and on a limited basis internationally. The Foundation is interested and involved in improving the quality of life through community self-improvement, education, social welfare, economic development and environmental management. In response to the changing needs of today's complex and broad community concerns, the Foundation supports a variety of approaches organized and interrelated under four principles of grantmaking: (1) opportunity for the individual; (2) partnership with the community; (3) effective functioning of community systems; and (4) leadership as the mobilizer. Within each principle, grants are categorized by missions which provide the context for the Foundation's programming. The current major national areas of activity are the following: (1) at-risk youth, including pregnant adolescents; (2) community education; (3) community foundations and other philanthropic issues; (4) economic development and neighborhood revitalization; (5) employment and training; (6) environment and conservation; (7) historically black colleges; and (8) social welfare. Beyond current program areas, the Foundation also supports program activities which encourage exploration in many other areas of funding. Descriptions of five representative programs, including interviews with participants, are included. (FMW)