The foundation operated for many years without a defined mission statement. During that time it primarily supported medical organizations. Even the social programs it supported were generally related to medical care.

It is the nature of private foundations to somehow honor, remember or display the values, attitudes or character of their founders. Although some grants may provide an opportunity to be named after Mr. Webb, the goal of the foundation is not to display his name, but to continue his philanthropic interests.

Mr. Webb never clearly stated a single purpose for his foundation. There are no specific guidelines. There was no single medical field he was interested in. His passion for medicine may have been the result of his battle with typhoid fever at age 28. His reasons for supporting youth groups and other non-medical organizations were related more to his corporation than to his foundation. Those reasons no longer apply. People who actually worked with him can attest that his real passion was medicine.

Although this mission focuses on medicine, the foundation will continue to support non-medical organizations that carry his name, such as the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University, the Del E. Webb Memorial Library at Loma Linda University and the Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center at Yavapai College.

The board feels strongly enough about this mission that it has decided it can be changed only by a unanimous vote of the directors.