Grant Goldmine
Grant Title: Ford Foundation
Funded by: Ford Motor Company
Founder: Established in 1936 by Henry Ford, who founded Ford Motor Company in 1903, and his son, Edsel Ford. The late Henry Ford II (d. 1987), chairman of Ford Motor Company and a son of Edsel Ford, served on the foundation's board from 1943 until 1976. Under his tenure, the foundation evolved from a Michigan charity into a worldwide institutional philanthropy. Today, the foundation has no official ties to the Ford family or the Ford Motor Company.
Description: "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." Ford Foundation Annual Report 2001
Program activities are supported primarily within the following broad categories: Asset Building and Community Development; Education, Media, Arts, and Culture; and Peace and Social Justice. Within these three broad categories, the Foundation also funds projects using film, television, and radio to explore public policy issues and uses a limited portion of its capital funds to make program-related investments in enterprises that will advance philanthropic purposes.
Awards amount: $506,951,000 (fiscal year ending September 30, 2002 approx); $827,695,000 (fiscal 2001 approx); $683,715,497 (fiscal 2000 approx)
Application Procedures:
INITIAL CONTACT: Before submitting any application, a brief letter of inquiry is recommended to determine whether the foundation's present interests and funds permit consideration of a proposal. Domestic applications and inquiries should be sent to the foundation's secretary. International applicants should direct their proposals to the nearest field office; field offices are listed in the foundation's annual report and on the foundation's Web site.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: The letter should include the purpose of the project for which funds are being requested; problems and issues the proposed project will address; information about the organization conducting the project; estimated project budget; period of time for which funds are requested; and qualifications of those who will be engaged in the project. After receiving the letter, the foundation may ask the applicant to submit a formal proposal. There is no grant application form. Proposals should include the organization's current budget; a description of the proposed work and how it will be conducted; the names and curriculum vitae of those engaged in the project; a detailed project budget; present means of support and status of applications to other funding sources; and legal and tax status.
DEADLINES: None.
REVIEW PROCESS: Applications are considered throughout the year. Normally, applicants may expect to receive within six weeks an indication of whether their proposals are within the foundation's interests and budget limitations.
Restrictions: Activities supported by grants and program-related investments must be charitable, educational, or scientific, as defined under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations. The foundation limits its grants to efforts likely to have wide effect. Support is not usually awarded for routine operating costs or for religious activities. Except in rare cases, funding is not available for construction or maintenance of buildings.
The foundation does not award undergraduate scholarships or make grants for purely personal needs. Support for graduate fellowships is generally provided through grants to universities and other organizations, which are responsible for the selection of recipients. Grants to individuals are most often awarded either through publicly announced competitions or on the basis of nominations from universities and other nonprofit institutions.
Although the foundation also makes grants to individuals, they are few in number relative to demand and are limited to research, training, and other activities related to the foundation's interests.
Contact:
Barron M. Tenny, Executive Vice President, Secretary
320 East 43rd Street
New York, NY 10017 USA
Phone: (212)573-5000
Fax: (212)351-3677
Typical Recipients:
ARTS & HUMANITIES: Arts Associations & Councils, Arts Centers, Dance, Ethnic & Folk Arts, Film & Video, Arts & Humanities-General, Historic Preservation, Libraries, Music, Performing Arts, Public Broadcasting, Theater
CIVIC & PUBLIC AFFAIRS: African American Affairs, Business/Free Enterprise, Civil Rights, Community Foundations, Economic Development, Economic Policy, Employment/Job Training, First Amendment Issues, Civic & Public Affairs-General, Hispanic Affairs, Housing, Law & Justice, Legal Aid, Municipalities/Towns, Native American Affairs, Nonprofit Management, Philanthropic Organizations, Public Policy, Rural Affairs, Urban & Community Affairs, Women's Affairs
EDUCATION: Agricultural Education, Arts/Humanities Education, Business-School Partnerships, Colleges & Universities, Community & Junior Colleges, Continuing Education, Economic Education, Education Associations, Education Funds, Education Reform, Faculty Development, Education-General, Gifted & Talented Programs, International Studies, Leadership Training, Legal Education, Literacy, Minority Education, Public Education (Precollege), Science/Mathematics Education, Social Sciences Education, Student Aid
ENVIRONMENT: Air/Water Quality, Forestry, Environment-General, Resource Conservation
HEALTH: AIDS/HIV, Health-General, Health Organizations, Medical Research, Nutrition, Public Health
INTERNATIONAL: Foreign Arts Organizations, Foreign Educational Institutions, International-General, Health Care/Hospitals, Human Rights, International Affairs, International Development, International Environmental Issues, International Organizations, International Peace & Security Issues, International Relations, International Relief Efforts, Missionary/Religious Activities, Trade
RELIGION: Religious Organizations, Religious Welfare, Social/Policy Issues
SCIENCE: Science-General, Scientific Centers & Institutes, Scientific Organizations
SOCIAL SERVICES: At-Risk Youth, Child Welfare, Community Service Organizations, Day Care, Delinquency & Criminal Rehabilitation, Domestic Violence, Family Planning, Family Services, Refugee Assistance, Substance Abuse, United Funds/United Ways, Volunteer Services, Youth Organizations
Contributions Analysis
GIVING PRIORITIES: Asset building and community development; education, media, arts, and culture; peace and social justice.
ARTS & HUMANITIES: 5%. Media, Arts and Culture —public broadcasting; promoting a free and responsible news media; independent production of film, video, and radio programming; and strengthening art institutions.
CIVIC & PUBLIC AFFAIRS: 16%. Community Development, Resource Development and Economic Development —with a focus on development finance and economic security; workforce development; environment and development; and community development.
EDUCATION: 39%. Education, Knowledge and Religion —supports education reform; higher education and scholarship; and religion, society and culture educational initiatives. Major emphasis on education research and reform K-12. Made a substantial, one-time commitment above routine budget levels to establish the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program.
HEALTH: 8%. Human Development and Reproductive Health —funds efforts in the areas of children, youth and families; and sexuality and reproductive health.
INTERNATIONAL: 30%. Peace and Social Justice —primary support in the areas of Human Rights & International Cooperation and Governance & Civil Society.
OTHER: 2%. Funds Foundation-wide Actions and Good Neighbor Grants.
NOTE: Total contributions made in fiscal 2001.