The Heartland Initiative

The Ford Foundation is proud that our funding has touched the lives of most Americans and has supported organizations across the United States.

In 2022, the foundation made a specific commitment of $40 million to the Heartland Initiative, which benefits organizations and individuals in the Midwest, the South, Appalachia, and rural America.

Its mission is to bolster the work of visionary leaders and groups in their regions to create better jobs, economic opportunity, and brighter futures. Ford funds projects and programs that help provide broadband access to rural communities, confront the opioid crisis, help people with disabilities, and reshape their regions’ futures with capital investments. From South Dakota to Missouri, Kentucky to Alabama, these organizations and leaders are devising exciting and locally-based solutions.

We believe in investing in regions of America that have faced economic hardship and underinvestment but hold vast possibilities. That’s why we fund organizations that have the potential to become key actors in their fields. Whether it’s shoring up the resilience of locally-owned businesses, supporting employee ownership, or investing in job training for people with disabilities, Ford is committed to supporting Americans across our country.

Made in the Heartland: 90 Years of Partnership and Progress

Born in Detroit, Ford Foundation remains dedicated to the American Heartland. Through stewardship, civic architecture, and democratic wealth-building, Ford empowers local leaders to drive regional growth. By strengthening institutions and expanding ownership, the Foundation ensures a resilient, inclusive future.

Collage image of conductor of Detroit Symphony Orchestra alongside a man in a wheelchair working in welding shop alongside an image of a man on the set of Sesame Street.

A group of nine smiling individuals place their hands together in a central huddle indoors. This image captures community building, collective action, and local civic engagement, illustrating the "infrastructure of trust" within rural American grassroots democracy movements.

Stories

The Infrastructure of Trust: How Local Civic Hubs Are Rebuilding Democracy Across Rural America

Trust for Civic Life invests in civic hubs–locally led organizations that allow communities to come together– to rebuild trust and strengthen democracy across the U.S. Heartland.

A collage featuring two people embracing, a classical government building, and a banner with the word "VOTE". This graphic represents civic engagement, voter participation, and democratic trust, illustrating the power of community action in shaping local and national governance.

Stories

Mississippi Engaged: Strengthening Democracy and Building Civic Engagement in Communities

Mississippi Engaged, a nonpartisan coalition, combats restrictive voting laws through year-round organizing, community education, and advocacy for reforms like early voting. Their strategy emphasizes localized engagement to dismantle barriers and ensure every voice is heard.

A welder from Gnargo Bike Co welding a piece of metal.

Supporting Entrepreneurs in the Heartland

Our Mission Investments team talks about economic opportunity in the Heartland with Ford-backed small business owners in Arkansas.

Willa Johnson in a blue dress sits on a stool in a studio, facing the camera. The text "ON WHAT MATTERS with Willa Johnson" is displayed on the left. A crew member holds a clapperboard, and the scene is visible on a monitor in the foreground.

The Power of Appalachian Art With Willa Johnson and Sarita Gupta

Willa Johnson, director of the film department at Appalshop, and Sarita Gupta, vice president of U.S. programs at the Ford Foundation, discuss heartland creativity and amplifying rural narratives.

Three men are sitting in coversation in against a blue curtain background. The group includes Charles Blow, from left to right, in a dark suit and tie. The middle man, Kevin Bacon, wears glasses and a beige jacket over a dark shirt. The man on the right, Gabe Brown, wears a blue cap and a striped polo shirt.

The Heartland: Elevating Voices in Local Communities with Kevin Bacon and Gabe Brown

Communities across America, especially in rural areas, have increasingly seen less money and more problems. With access to broadband, quality medical care, and good jobs dwindling, the heartland of America urgently needs attention. Who are the changemakers in these areas and what are the opportunities we can’t afford to miss?

Minor League baseball players from the Tri-City ValleyCats' AJ Lee gets a high five from teammates.

Lessons From America’s Pastime: Support Organized Labor

This baseball season and beyond, let’s all take a signal from these courageous leaders and build a fairer economy that works for everyone.

News and Press

An aerial view of a barn or shed painted with an American flag pattern, situated in the middle of a large green field. The sky is partly cloudy, and a road and mountains are in the distance.

In the press – Observer

The Next Generation’s Declaration of Economic Independence

Roy Swan argues investing in local leaders and worker-centered businesses offer a path to “Patriotic Capitalism”, addressing the current economic system’s failure to allow Americans to build wealth while staying rooted in their communities.

The mountainous view of Ohio University in Athens from Bong Hill.

In the press – Pensions & Investments

Ford Foundation and KKR co-founder’s nonprofit team up with universities to bolster Appalachian businesses

Explore how the Ford Foundation and KKR’s George Roberts are scaling the REDF Impact Investing Fund. This will quickly grow social businesses that focus on creating jobs. This effort tackles the lack of opportunity for millions of Americans who face major obstacles to employment, such as those with criminal records…

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In the press – Real Clear Politics

Employee Ownership: A Path to Upward Mobility

Discover how employee ownership serves as a powerful engine for upward mobility. This article explores how it can help bridge the wealth gap, increase worker productivity, and strengthen local economies by turning employees into stakeholders with a literal investment in success.

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News

Ford Foundation, RIIF Launch $5 Million Initiative to Empower Next Generation of Appalachian Investors

The Emerging Appalachian Investors Fund equips local students as emerging investors, building a network of Appalachian capital allocators to drive regional growth

Sunset view of a mountain range during fall foliage.

In the press – University of Vermont

UVM’s Leahy Institute Receives $250K from Ford Foundation to Boost Partnerships Across Vermont

The Ford Foundation’s $250,000 grant empowers the University of Vermont’s Leahy Institute to expand rural internships and data services. This partnership fuels economic resilience by providing small towns with student leadership and critical technical resources for sustainable community development and growth.

A back country road going through a thick lush green forest.

In the press – Lexington Herald Leader

Where are Kentucky’s angels? A call for investment in Appalachian growth

Kentucky’s angel tax credit ignores the very industries Eastern Kentucky needs most. By expanding incentives to include construction, ecotourism, and retail, the state can bridge a $70 billion capital gap and empower local entrepreneurs to rebuild the Appalachian economy.

A serene park scene with a calm lake reflecting surrounding trees and hills. Above the landscape is a blue graphic with a white outline of the United States and the text Heartland Forward.

In the press – Talk Business & Politics

Heartland Forward to expand telehealth access in Arkansas, Oklahoma

Heartland Forward is expanding telehealth access across Arkansas and Oklahoma to bridge the rural healthcare gap. By enhancing broadband connectivity and digital literacy, this initiative empowers Heartland residents with essential care, improving health outcomes and fosters regional economic resilience.

Two workers in a corridor are repairing, surrounded by wooden boards and tools. One is wearing overalls and a red cap, the other a blue shirt. The passage is lined with light blue walls and signs hanging above.