Special Initiatives

GrantCraft

Good grant making entails more than just being an expert in your community or field of interest. It requires a set of tools and skills developed over many years, by many people, in many types of foundations.

As a leader in the philanthropic sector, the Ford Foundation believes in the value of sharing and learning about such practices. That’s why we launched GrantCraft, a source of practical wisdom for grant makers, in 2001.

GrantCraft offers a series of publications and videos designed to prompt discussions among foundation practitioners about strategic and tactical lessons in philanthropy. We invite you to participate in an ongoing effort to share grant-making experiences and thoughts about how best to do philanthropic work.

Recent Guides

Funder CollaborativesAmple proof that collaboratives are leading the field in bringing the voices of nonfunders—grantees, intended beneficiaries, experts, and others—into the process of making grants.

Communicating for ImpactHow grant makers use a "communications lens" to develop strategy, evaluate impact, take advantage of new media technologies and more.

Funding Community OrganizingFunders and organizers discuss effective community organizing, how to manage grantee relationships over time, understanding the value of process, and the grant maker's role in fostering change.