The Work of Our Moment

We’re building a world where everyone has the power to shape their lives.

The Importance of Democracy and Rule of Law
A montage representing civic engagement featuring a family at sunset with hands raised, a "VOTE HERE / VOTE AQUÍ" A-frame sign with an American flag, and a grand domed glass ceiling. The composition symbolizes community participation, democratic rights, and urban identity.
A composite collage featuring a woman in glasses with a raised arm, a group of people dancing in red and blue clothing, a film strip showing two women talking, and a green corn plant against a cream background with vintage paper textures.

A Living Legacy of Social Justice at a Global Scale

Marking 90 years, the Ford Foundation has evolved from a local trust into a global catalyst for justice. By investing in institutions, individuals, and ideas, Ford empowers local leaders to solve systemic challenges and build a more dignified, equitable world.

A graphic for the Promote the Vote Fund featuring a map of Michigan with a red checkmark. A hand places a ballot into the map against a background of white stars and "VOTE" text, symbolizing voting rights, election protection, and civic participation in Michigan.

Promote the Vote Fund: Ensuring Every Voice Is Heard in Michigan

Learn how Promote the Vote Fund is strengthening voting rights and accessible, fair elections in Michigan through year-round voter education

A smiling woman, Heather Gerken, with blonde hair, wearing a bright coral blazer. The image is framed by a black-and-red border with text reading "TIME100 PHILANTHROPY 2026 HONOREE." This high-quality photo humanizes our leadership and highlights institutional recognition.

Heather Gerken Named to  2026 TIME 100 Philanthropy List

Heather Gerken, who took over in November from longtime Ford Foundation president Darren Walker, believes American democracy currently faces what may be its greatest challenge yet.

A line of people waiting to enter a room, viewed from behind. This image represents voter participation, civic engagement, and democratic access, illustrating the Ford Foundation's commitment to strengthening democracy through new funding for inclusive representation and social justice initiatives.

Ford Foundation Adds $60 Million in New Funding to Strengthen Democracy

Ford Foundation announced additional grants to nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations protecting and advancing democracy and the rule of law in the United States.

Discover More News and Stories
A 3 picture collage of a farmer controlling a drone, a woman in a wheelchair laughing while looking at her phone, and three women in front of greenhouses holding a variety of produce.

We are advancing equality

We believe in the inherent dignity of all people and that inequality is the defining challenge of our time.

How We Work

We invest in transformative ideas, individuals and institutions

We’re reimagining philanthropy to catalyze leaders and organizations driving social justice and building movements across the globe.

Our Grants
A 3 picture collage of an Indonesian man steering a canoe with a push pole, Yalitza Aparicio speaking into a microphone at a conference table, and a group of Nigerian colleagues discussing something at a conference table.

Our Priorities

We believe inequality is at the root of nearly every injustice. To create meaningful, lasting change, we focus on nine interconnected areas.

Why Inequality?
A vibrant collage illustrating civic engagement and community power. It features diverse activists speaking, hands joined in unity, and a historic legislative chamber. This artistic composition emphasizes grassroots organizing, political participation, and social justice advocacy in a modern democratic society.

Civic Engagement and Government

Collage of green and orange mixed with black and white photos of dancers and artwork.

Creativity and Free Expression

A black-and-white collage celebrating disability rights and inclusion. It features a diverse group of smiling individuals, including people with visible and invisible disabilities, such as a wheelchair user and a man with a white cane. This visual emphasizes empowerment, accessibility, and diverse representation.

Disability Rights

Digital collage representing the future of work and labor rights. It features a central smartphone with a delivery rider, workers holding "Solidarity" signs, and a diverse team photo. This visual emphasizes the gig economy, worker mobilization, and collective action in the 2026 labor market.

Future of Work(ers)

An artistic collage representing gender, racial, and ethnic justice. It features a central profile silhouette, activists holding a "Trans People Belong" sign, and diverse hands joined in solidarity. This visual emphasizes human rights advocacy, equality, and social justice movements.

Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice

Two hands shaking in between to cellphones above a board table.

Global Governance

Various motifs of people in and around shapes in from of a bar graph.

Mission Investments

A collage of climate change and environmental motifs. Yellow and pink are the primary colors.

Natural Resources and Climate Justice

A collage with mainly light green with people using various types of devices and technologies.

Technology and Society

Special Features

Extraordinary stories of change, hope, and resilience from our community.

Collage of one male middle farmer and one middle aged woman in the foreground.

The Heartland Initiative

A stylized illustration of a stack of hands of various skin tones holding up a glowing lightbulb. The lightbulb's filament is a map of the world, and it emits bright yellow light rays against a yellow background.

People-Powered Solutions: Connecting Local Communities and Global Challenges

A wedding invitation card for "Patrice & Gary" features a photo of their ceremony in a garden gazebo. Gary, who uses a wheelchair, and Patrice, in a peach gown, hold hands, illustrating the event's theme of illuminating disability rights and inclusive celebrations.

The Cost of “I Do” in the Disability Community

A collage of historical photos featuring individuals in various settings, including meetings, classroom scenes, and group gatherings.

Building on over 90 years of impact

We have supported the work of some of history’s greatest minds, helped build pivotal institutions and seeded big ideas that have fueled groundbreaking movements.

Our History

Visit Us

Our building—including our garden and gallery—is open to the public.

Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice Atrium Garden.

Center for Social Justice

The Ford Foundation is located in New York City at the Center for Social Justice—a hub for social good and the courageous people who devote their lives to achieving it.

About the Center
Woman in red coat walking toward Ford Foundation Gallery doors

Gallery

In this space, we shine a light on artwork that wrestles with difficult questions, calls out injustice, and points the way toward a more fair and just future.

About the Gallery