The Ford Foundation
Accepts applications
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation in New York, New York. In tax year 2024 it gave $771 million in 4,007 grants; the typical grant was $100,000 and the largest $15.0 million. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$771 million
- Number of grants4,007
- Typical grant$100,000
- Largest grant$15.0 million
- Assets$17 billion
- New grantees36%
Giving in 2024 was up from $607 million the year before.
36% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $607 million | 3,718 | $17 billion |
| 2024 | $771 million | 4,007 | $17 billion |
How to apply
| Contact | The Ford Foundation C/O Secretary 320 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (212) 573-5000 |
| What to submit | Proposals should set forth a description of the proposed work; how the work will be conducted; the names and curriculum vitae of those engaged in the project; a detailed budget, the project's present means of support, the project's status of applications to other funding sources, and the project's legal and tax status. |
| Restrictions | Activities supported by foundation grants must be charitable, educational or scientific under the provisions of the U.S. Internal revenue code and the treasury regulations. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Ford Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 51 states, the most to New York. It also paid $234 million in 1,117 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,099 | $187 million |
| District of Columbia | 412 | $143 million |
| California | 357 | $78.5 million |
| Michigan | 109 | $31.6 million |
| Massachusetts | 128 | $30.6 million |
| Illinois | 64 | $15.7 million |
| Texas | 66 | $10.6 million |
| Maryland | 44 | $9.7 million |
| Georgia | 39 | $8.7 million |
| Minnesota | 35 | $8.3 million |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | Core support for the abundant futures fund (formerly, the new immigration fund), a national funder collaborative to engage new donors and significantly increase funding for immigration issues and the immigrant justice movement | $15.0 million |
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc | Core support for the justice and mobility fund to accelerate economic mobility through criminal justice reforms for people with convictions and incarceration histories | $12.7 million |
| Foundation for Detroit's Future | For the detroit institute of arts settlement project to expedite detroit's bankruptcy settlement, assist in honoring pension commitments and preserve the institutes collection for public benefit | $8.3 million |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | Core support for the collaborative for gender and reproductive equity | $5.0 million |
| Henry Ford Health System | General support | $3.4 million |
| Drug Policy Alliance | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $3.3 million |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc | General support | $3.2 million |
| Equality Fund | General support | $3.0 million |
| The Global Fund for Women Inc | Core support for the launch of the black feminist fund, an unprecedented philanthropic initiative bridging black feminist resources to black feminist organizing around the world to strengthen their sustainability and resilience | $3.0 million |
| Me Too International Inc | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $2.5 million |
| Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts | Core support for america's cultural treasures regional initiative in massachusetts, creative futures initiative: towards a just + equitable arts field, to support local arts and cultural activities | $2.5 million |
| Ms Training Centre for Development Cooperation | Core support for fight inequality alliance's work with national movements in over 40 countries across asia, africa, europe and latin america and the caribbean that are connected globally | $2.5 million |
| Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation Incorporated | For the deep south/emerging social justice infrastructure strategic grantmaking program | $2.4 million |
| Neo Philanthropy Inc | Core support for the four freedoms fund to strengthen the capacity of the immigrant justice movement to ensure all immigrants, regardless of status, have dignity, power to shape change, and agency to determine their life, community, and future | $2.3 million |
| Upturn Inc | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $2.3 million |
| Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $2.2 million |
| Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism | Core support for the sister funds collective care program to build sustainable and scalable regional and global infrastructures that support the resilience, wellbeing, and safety of women and lbtqi+ defenders and their movements | $2.1 million |
| New Venture Fund | For the administration of the public interest technology infrastructure fund, to continue cross-foundation strategic collaboration and grantmaking to strengthen the field of public interest technology | $2.1 million |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc | General support | $2.0 million |
| Howard University | Core support for the center for journalism and democracy to help strengthen americas democracy by training and supporting generations of black journalists in the field of investigative journalism | $2.0 million |
| Oxfam America Inc | For the climate media collaborative for economic justice and community rights to leverage strategic communications and campaigns capacity | $2.0 million |
| United States Artists Inc | General support | $2.0 million |
| Yayasan Solidaritas Dana Nusantara | For a direct funding mechanism to support indigenous peoples and local communities' initiatives in protecting and managing their territories, their environment and their agrarian resources, and for endowment support | $2.0 million |
| New Venture Fund | Core support to implement governance, management, strategies, grantmaking, and learning for the global network for social justice and digital resilience | $1.8 million |
| Movement Alliance Project | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $1.8 million |
| Center for Popular Democracy Inc | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $1.8 million |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | Core support for the pop culture collaborative, a donor collaborative and learning community transforming narratives about black and indigenous peoples, people of color, immigrants, refugees, and muslims; and core support for institutional strengthen | $1.8 million |
| Center for Law and Social Policy | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $1.7 million |
| Enterprise Community Partners Inc | Core support for the cdo fund for community development organizations that engage in economic and community development, organizing, resident engagement, and social service projects that empower detroiters | $1.7 million |
| Way to Rise | Core support for the valiente fund to generate and organize donors, build year-round civic engagement programs focused on people of color, women, and young people, and strengthen state social justice infrastructure | $1.7 million |
| American University of Beirut | To support the regionalization of the non-governmental organizations initiative (ngoi) and the set up of an institutional strengthening and capacity building program for civil society in the mena region. | $1.7 million |
| Fund for Global Human Rights | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $1.6 million |
| NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc | General support | $1.6 million |
| Powerswitch Action | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $1.6 million |
| United We Dream Network Inc | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $1.6 million |
| State Innovation Exchange | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $1.6 million |
| Transgender Law Center | General support and project support for institutional strengthening | $1.5 million |
| Clooney Foundation for Justice | General support | $1.5 million |
| National Immigration Law Center | General support and core support for institutional strengthening | $1.5 million |
| New Venture Fund | For the administration of the public interest technology infrastructure fund, to continue cross-foundation strategic collaboration and grantmaking to strengthen the field of public interest technology | $1.5 million |
Officers and trustees
- Eric W Doppstadt
- Darren Walker
- Hillary Pennington
- Nishka Chandrasoma
- Martin Abregu
- Sarita Gupta
- Michele Moore
- Diane Headly
- Depelsha McGruder
- Francisco G Cigarroa
- Ursula M Burns
- Catalina Devandas
- Amy C Falls
- Henry Ford III
- Thomas L Kempner Jr
Questions people ask
Does The Ford Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications.
How much does The Ford Foundation give?
$771 million in tax year 2024, across 4,007 grants, with a typical grant of $100,000.
Who runs The Ford Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Eric W Doppstadt (VP & Chief Investment Officer), Darren Walker (President & Trustee), Hillary Pennington (Executive VP of Programs) and Nishka Chandrasoma (VP, Sec. & Chief Legal Officer) among 15 officers and trustees.
What does The Ford Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly international, education and arts and culture.