The foundation's support for Gulf Coast recovery exceeds $75 million on the third anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. More »
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A fundamental challenge facing every society is to create political, economic and social systems that promote peace, human welfare and the sustainability of the environment on which life depends.
We believe that finding solutions to the world's most complex problems requires engaging the people and the communities closest to them, including men and women from diverse backgrounds and all levels of society.
We work mainly by making grants or loans that build knowledge and strengthen organizations and networks. These methods of problem-solving reflect our mission and the diverse ways we support grantees. They also describe a model of philanthropy that the foundation has pursued for more than 70 years: To be a long-term and flexible partner with innovative leaders of thought and action.
We make grants from our New York headquarters and our regional offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Russia.
For more than 70 years, the Ford Foundation has been delivering on a promise to improve lives and create opportunity. Learn more about the history of our work.
Working from our New York headquarters and in 12 regional offices, our staff of 600 is committed to fulfilling our mission. Our program officers are experts in their fields, recruited from universities, nonprofit organizations, and the public and private sectors for six-year terms. Together with a dedicated team of program administrators and assistants, they develop grant strategies designed to make positive change in the fields in which we work.