The Danforth Foundation was created in 1927 by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Danforth of St. Louis, founders of Ralston Purina. The philanthropy was devoted to giving aid and encouragement to persons, emphasizing the humane values that come from a religious and democratic heritage, and strengthening the quality of education. In 1941 the Danforth Foundation established the Danforth Associate Program. The goal of the DAP was to improve the quality of human relations in colleges and universities. Through recognition of gifted teachers, and their wives or husbands, and through various programs of assistance, efforts are made on the local campus, in the regions and nationally to strengthen the personal dimension of education, especially in student-faculty relationships. In 1986 the Danforth Foundation cancelled the Associate Program. The Northwest Region, however, was given permission to continue hosting conferences for its region. The final Danforth Associates Northwest (DAN) conference took place in 2003. The Danforth Foundation closed in 2011.