The Ford Foundation, one of the world’s largest grantmakers, will throw more weight behind democracy
The $18 billion foundation will expand support for democratic governance, elections and civil liberties as it adds seven new program areas.
- On Thursday, October 22, 2026, the New York-based Ford Foundation unveiled a major strategic overhaul, refocusing its $18 billion endowment to protect democratic values, fundamental freedoms, and inclusive economies worldwide.
- Growing autocracy and intensifying inequality prompted the pivot, as leadership aims to respond to an "unpredictable and volatile period" that demands more from philanthropy.
- The foundation will launch seven programs throughout 2027, including democratic governance, racial justice, and gender equality initiatives, while shifting staff into three temporary units to maintain existing grants.
- An estimated $700 million in grants will be moved for 2027, with the foundation prioritizing flexible, multiyear support to help grantees navigate rapid global changes.
- President Heather Gerken reaffirmed the foundation's commitment to marginalized communities despite political criticism, framing the strategy as necessary to defend civil liberties against 21st-century authoritarianism.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Ford Foundation Announces New Priorities #ELB
The listening tour is over. The Ford Foundation has published its report to its Board, How to Meet this Moment. The Foundation will focus on the basic preconditions necessary to make democracy thrive: “the rule of law. Free and fair … Continue reading Ford Foundation Announces New Priorities →
The $18 billion Ford Foundation is getting its biggest overhaul since 2015 to fight autocracy—with about $700 million in grants expected in 2027
Less than a year into the job, president Heather Gerken is reorganizing the 90-year-old philanthropy around seven funding areas.
The Toronto Star
The Ford Foundation, one of the world’s largest grantmakers, will throw more weight behind democracy
NEW YORK (AP) — The Ford Foundation, one of the world's largest private grantmakers, will overhaul its spending to counter what new leadership views as the mutually reinforcing rise of both autocracy and inequality.
Associated Press News
The Ford Foundation, one of the world's largest grantmakers, will throw more weight behind democracy
The Ford Foundation, one of the world’s largest private grantmakers, will overhaul its spending to counter what new leadership views as the mutually reinforcing rise of both autocracy and inequality.
Ford Foundation Overhauls $18 Billion Strategy to Fight Autocracy and Strengthen Democracy
The Ford Foundation has announced a new strategy centred on what it describes as the “preconditions for thriving democracies”, placing greater emphasis on the rule of law, reliable information and inclusive economies. The announcement, made on Thursday, marks a significant strategic change for the 90-year-old grantmaking organisation. Some observers have described it as the foundation’s […]
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