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Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is a large, independent philanthropic organization with an endowment of over $16 billion, focused on addressing inequality, advancing social justice, and strengthening democratic values worldwide. Its programmatic areas include civic engagement, disability rights, the future of workers, gender and racial justice, technology and society, and mission investments. Under its new president, Heather Gerken, the foundation is undergoing a strategy overhaul and ending its BUILD program—which historically provided multiyear general operating support—while maintaining a commitment to grantmaking focused on the rule of law and democracy.

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Monday brief · week of 26 October 2026

Ford Foundation sharpens focus on democratic resilience and collective power as bedrock for justice.

Written each Monday from this funder's own recent publications. Every point links to the sentence it rests on.

What they're leaning into

  • The foundation is leaning into rule of law and democratic reform as prerequisites for protecting marginalized communities, citing them as the foundation for all other justice work.

    “Protecting marginalized communities depends on strong democratic values.”Protecting marginalized communities depends on strong democratic values. Our president, Heather Gerken and our Executive · 2026-10-26 ↗“If you don’t have a rule of law, if you don’t have an election system that functions, all the other values that Ford cares about, all the other projects that Ford has done over the years, fall apart.”Protecting marginalized communities depends on strong democratic values. Our president, Heather Gerken and our Executive · 2026-10-26 ↗

  • Collective power and labor rights are resurging themes, with recent emphasis on fair wages, safety protections, and bargaining power as tools for transformational change.

    ““Sí, se puede,” her iconic phrase, echoes across movements worldwide as a symbol of collective power.”Dolores Huerta spent a lifetime proving that transformational change is possible. “Sí, se puede,” her iconic phrase, ech · 2026-10-28 ↗“securing fair wages, safety protections, bargaining power and essential benefits including disability insurance and bilingual education.”Dolores Huerta spent a lifetime proving that transformational change is possible. “Sí, se puede,” her iconic phrase, ech · 2026-10-28 ↗

  • Climate change and indigenous land rights are newly prominent, particularly in connection to local governance and community-led restoration efforts like mangrove restoration.

    “in areas including education, climate change, and civic space.”#MakeItCount: 29 · 2026-10-27 ↗“in areas including education, climate change, and civic space.”#MakeItCount: 29 · 2026-10-27 ↗

What has gone quiet

  • Disability inclusion, once a recurring theme, has not appeared in recent publications, despite its mention in earlier labor rights contexts.

    “securing fair wages, safety protections, bargaining power and essential benefits including disability insurance and bilingual education.”Dolores Huerta spent a lifetime proving that transformational change is possible. “Sí, se puede,” her iconic phrase, ech · 2026-10-28 ↗

Framing to consider

  • Grantseekers might frame their work as strengthening democratic infrastructure—such as rule of law or civic participation—to safeguard marginalized communities and enable long-term justice outcomes.

    “Protecting marginalized communities depends on strong democratic values.”Protecting marginalized communities depends on strong democratic values. Our president, Heather Gerken and our Executive · 2026-10-26 ↗“If you don’t have a rule of law, if you don’t have an election system that functions, all the other values that Ford cares about, all the other projects that Ford has done over the years, fall apart.”Protecting marginalized communities depends on strong democratic values. Our president, Heather Gerken and our Executive · 2026-10-26 ↗

  • Projects could emphasize co-creation and collective power, positioning labor rights, fair wages, or community-led climate solutions as pathways to shared, transformative change.

    ““Sí, se puede,” her iconic phrase, echoes across movements worldwide as a symbol of collective power.”Dolores Huerta spent a lifetime proving that transformational change is possible. “Sí, se puede,” her iconic phrase, ech · 2026-10-28 ↗“securing fair wages, safety protections, bargaining power and essential benefits including disability insurance and bilingual education.”Dolores Huerta spent a lifetime proving that transformational change is possible. “Sí, se puede,” her iconic phrase, ech · 2026-10-28 ↗

Past briefs