Partners
Ford
Foundation
The
Ford Foundation is a resource for innovative people and institutions
worldwide. Our goals are to:
- Strengthen
democratic values,
-
Reduce poverty and injustice,
-
Promote international cooperation and
-
Advance human achievement
This has been our purpose for almost half a century.
A
fundamental challenge facing every society is to create political,
economic and social systems that promote peace, human welfare and
the sustainability of the environment on which life depends. We believe
that the best way to meet this challenge is to encourage initiatives
by those living and working closest to where problems are located;
to promote collaboration among the nonprofit, government and business
sectors, and to ensure participation by men and women from diverse
communities and at all levels of society. In our experience, such
activities help build common understanding, enhance excellence, enable
people to improve their lives and reinforce their commitment to society.
The
Ford Foundation is one source of support for these activities. We
work mainly by making grants or loans that build knowledge and strengthen
organizations and networks. Since our financial resources are modest
in comparison to societal needs, we focus on a limited number of problem
areas and program strategies within our broad goals.
Founded
in 1936, the Foundation operated as a local philanthropy in the state
of Michigan until 1950, when it expanded to become a national and
inter-national foundation. Since its inception it has been an independent,
nonprofit, nongovernmental organization. It has provided slightly
more than $10 billion in grants and loans. These funds derive from
an investment portfolio that began with gifts and bequests of Ford
Motor Company stock by Henry and Edsel Ford. The Foundation no longer
owns Ford Motor Company stock, and its diversified portfolio is managed
to provide a perpetual source of support for the Foundation's programs
and operations.
The
Trustees of the Foundation set policy and delegate authority to the
president and senior staff for the Foundation's grant making and operations.
Program officers in the United States, Africa, the Middle East, Asia,
Latin America and Russia explore opportunities to pursue the Foundation's
goals, formulate strategies and recommend proposals for funding.
