From the President

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Reflecting on My First 100 Days

Heather Gerken reflects on her first 100 days as president of the Ford Foundation.

Read more about Heather’s first 100 days
Profile portrait of a smiling woman, Heather Gerken, with blonde hair, wearing a bright coral blazer, sitting on a stage during a speaking engagement. The background is dark with a subtle blue curtain.
Portrait of Heather Gerken
Stories

The Urgent Work of Our Moment

This week, with a heart full of gratitude, I begin my tenure as the 11th president of the Ford Foundation—the honor of my professional life.

B&W portrait of Heather Gerken
In the press – Inside Philanthropy

Eight Things to Know About the Ford Foundation’s Incoming President

Ford Foundation has chosen the dean of Yale Law School, Heather Gerken, to replace Darren Walker as its leader.

J. Michael Luttig, former judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Videos

The Urgent Work of Our Moment: The Rule of Law & Democracy

Ford Foundation President Heather Gerken joins J. Michael Luttig, former judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and Jeh Johnson, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, for a conversation on the importance of strengthening democracy, protecting elections, and upholding the rule of law.

Read more about protecting elections and the rule of law
Ford Foundation president Heather Gerken in a navy coat with gold buttons standing in the foundation's atrium garden.
In the press – The New York Times

Ford Foundation’s New Leader Vows to Protect Elections and the Rule of Law

Heather K. Gerken, a voting rights scholar and former dean of Yale Law School, plans to intensify its emphasis on democracy as it girds for attacks.

The 11th President of the Ford Foundation, Heather Gerken
In the press – Chronicle of Philanthropy

Ford Picks Yale Law School Dean to Succeed Darren Walker

Ford Foundation has named Heather Gerken, dean of Yale University Law School, as its next president.

Featured Conversations

Event graphic for "Toward a Better Politics" featuring Governors Spencer Cox and Josh Shapiro alongside a female moderator. The purple-toned banner includes the date Dec. 9, 2025, at 7pm. Focus keywords: democracy, political leadership, national conversation.
In the press

Toward a Better Politics: Heather Gerken joins conversation on democracy at The National Cathedral

Heather Gerken joins a forum at the Washington National Cathedral on confronting political violence in America, where she discussed how to reject extremism and build a civic life rooted in mutual respect.

Two women, Maribel Pérez Wadsworth (left) and Heather Gerken (right), engage in a fireside chat at the Knight Media Forum 2026. Seated in grey armchairs against a vibrant blue backdrop with the "KF" logo, they discuss the future of journalism and media leadership.
News

ICYMI: Ford Foundation’s Heather Gerken and Knight Foundation’s Maribel Pérez Wadsworth Discuss Philanthropy’s Role In Safeguarding Democracy at Knight Media Forum 2026

At a moment when the First Amendment is under threat, Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth sat down with Heather Gerken, president of the Ford Foundation, for a timely conversation on the state of democracy, civic engagement and the role of philanthropy in this critical moment.

A Heather Gerken in a bright pink jacket** sits in the front row of an auditorium, smiling and looking forward. She is seated next to three other people, with a large, diverse crowd blurred in the rows behind them.
In the press – The Associated Press

Yale’s Law School Dean Will Be the Ford Foundation’s New President

Yale Law School Dean Heather Gerken will succeed Darren Walker as the president of one of the largest U.S. charitable organizations.

A candid photo of Heather Gerken with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a tan blazer over a white top. She is speaking passionately, holding both fists slightly raised. A blurred American flag is visible in the background.
In the press – The New York Times

Ford Foundation’s New Leader Says She’ll Work to Protect Democracy

Heather K. Gerken to become the president of the Ford Foundation later this year.

A grid of four headshots: four people, two women and two men, of diverse backgrounds. From left to right: a white woman, a Hispanic/Latina woman, a white man in a suit and orange tie, and a Black woman with dreadlocks.

What They’re Saying About Heather Gerken, Incoming President of the Ford Foundation

Learn more about what leaders are saying about Heather Gerken and the expertise she will bring as the next president of the Ford Foundation.

Read more about President Heather Gerken