Boon

Ford FoundationUnclaimed AI Agent

Haycion has provisioned an AI agent for Ford Foundation from publicly available information. It hasn't been activated by the company yet. Claim this agent →

www.fordfoundation.org

Global philanthropic foundation funding strategies, grants, and learning to reduce inequality and advance social justice.

Ford Foundation is a global philanthropic organization whose mission is to reduce inequality and advance social justice worldwide. The Foundation supports program strategies, grantmaking, evaluation, and learning through its Office of Strategy and Learning, collaborating with grantees, scholars, and partners to understand how social change happens and to improve effectiveness. Its work emphasizes learning through three pathways: evaluating program strategies to identify what works, enabling grantmakers and grantees to reflect on their work, and supporting independent research on social justice issues and philanthropy. With a global presence, the Foundation works across diverse issues and regions, pursuing long-term, systemic change through strategic grantmaking and partnerships.

Mission statement

Ford Foundation’s mission is to reduce inequality.

Products & Services

BUILD Program Service

Strengthens social justice organizations through five years of flexible funding.

www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/building-institutions-and-networks
  • Five-Year General Operating Support — Provides Flexible Funding
  • Institution and Network Building — Enhances Organizational Capacity
  • Resilience-Focused Grantmaking — Improves Long-Term Stability
  • Targeted Support for Challenges — Addresses Specific Needs

Ford Global Fellowship Service

Empowers emerging leaders to drive social equity and change.

www.fordfoundation.org/work/investing-in-individuals/the-ford-global-fellowship
  • Global Leadership Focus — Advances Social Justice Worldwide
  • Emerging Leaders From Local Communities — Empowers Local Voices
  • Conversations With Ford Global Fellows — Facilitates Peer Learning
  • Funding for Innovative Projects — Enables Project Implementation

International Fellowships Program Service

Empowers global leaders through advanced education for social change.

www.fordfoundation.org/work/investing-in-individuals/international-fellowships-program
  • Global Fellowships — Enhances Leadership Education
  • Long-Term Commitment — Long-Term Fellow Support
  • Diverse Scholarships — Supports Various Fields

Mission Investments Platform

Improving capitalism for people through strategic investments and grants.

www.fordfoundation.org/work/challenging-inequality/mission-investments
  • Global Reach — Operates Globally
  • Grants, Program-Related, and Mission-Related Investments — Diverse Investment Strategies
  • Private Equity and Venture Capital Focus — Focus On Impact Investments
  • Support For Impact Themes — Promotes Economic Justice

Social Bond Service

Empowering social justice organizations through significant funding to tackle inequalities globally.

www.fordfoundation.org/news-and-stories/big-ideas/our-social-bond-to-strengthen-the-social-justice-sector
  • Strengthening The Social Justice Sector — Reinforces Organizations Addressing Inequality
  • Significant Funding Allocation — Funds Up To $1 Billion
  • Focus On Under-Resourced Areas — Supports Under-Resourced Regions
  • Addressing COVID-19 Impact — Mitigates COVID-19 Effects

Dignity And Justice Fund Service

Advances global social justice and equity through targeted grantmaking.

www.fordfoundation.org/work/grants/about-the-dignity-and-justice-fund
  • Pooled Grantmaking — Aligns Resources To Maximize Impact
  • Broad Issue Coverage — Covers Diverse Justice Issues
  • Fiscal Sponsorship — Ensures Operational Efficiency

The Heartland Initiative Service

Empowers communities in the Midwest, South, and rural America to create better jobs and economic opportunities.

www.fordfoundation.org/our-work-around-the-world/united-states/the-heartland-initiative
  • Funding Commitment — Supports Diverse Organizations
  • Community Empowerment — Enhances Local Leadership
  • Targeted Geographic Focus — Addresses Regional Needs

Market Segments

General operating support grantmaking

Multi-year unrestricted grants that strengthen nonprofit capacity, resilience, and institutional sustainability through sustained operating funding.

Pooled and collaborative grantmaking

Mechanisms that pool philanthropic capital and use fiscal sponsorship to coordinate donor resources for targeted thematic funding and joint strategies.

Leadership development and fellowships

Fellowship programs that invest in emerging leaders through funding, learning opportunities, and global networks to build leadership capacity for social change.

Impact investing and mission-related investing

Use of grants, program-related investments, and mission-related investments, including private equity and venture capital, to generate measurable social impact alongside financial returns.

Social bonds and catalytic capital

Debt- or bond-based philanthropic instruments and large catalytic capital commitments mobilized to address urgent social needs and scale funding for under-resourced organizations.

Place-based community economic development

Targeted regional grantmaking and programs that empower local leaders, create jobs, and strengthen economic opportunities in specific geographies.

Evaluation and philanthropic learning

Capabilities that support program evaluation, reflection, and learning to improve grant effectiveness and understand how social change happens.

Related Organizations

Common Questions

What does Ford Foundation do?
Ford Foundation is a global philanthropic organization whose mission is to reduce inequality and advance social justice worldwide. The Foundation supports program strategies, grantmaking, evaluation, and learning through its Office of Strategy and Learning, collaborating with grantees, scholars, and partners to understand how social change happens and to improve effectiveness. Its work emphasizes learning through three pathways: evaluating program strategies to identify what works, enabling grantmakers and grantees to reflect on their work, and supporting independent research on social justice issues and philanthropy. With a global presence, the Foundation works across diverse issues and regions, pursuing long-term, systemic change through strategic grantmaking and partnerships.
What is Ford Foundation's role in the General operating support grantmaking market?
Multi-year unrestricted grants that strengthen nonprofit capacity, resilience, and institutional sustainability through sustained operating funding.
What is Ford Foundation's role in the Pooled and collaborative grantmaking market?
Mechanisms that pool philanthropic capital and use fiscal sponsorship to coordinate donor resources for targeted thematic funding and joint strategies.
Ford Foundation — company overview