What inequality looks like

The American experiment is rooted in the ideals of equal justice and opportunity for all. At its best, the country has redressed historical injustices while incorporating newcomers into a dynamic and innovative society, promoting shared prosperity, and serving as a model and beacon for other nations. But current levels of inequality—the highest among advanced economies—threaten to undermine that promise and undercut economic growth.

Over the past generation, political, social, and economic systems too often have worked on behalf of the most privileged, failing to be responsive and inclusive. The notion of a strong social contract between people and their government, workers and their employers, and society and its youth has eroded significantly—with regressive fiscal and social policies placing higher burdens on the poor and failing to promote the common good. Meanwhile, an extremely high incarceration rate, and the barriers, often lifelong, to civic and economic participation for those who enter the criminal justice system, have powerful and compounding effects—imposing severe costs on families, communities, and taxpayers across the country.

This extreme inequality is unsustainable, and it is inconsistent with American values. It is not, however, inevitable.

Challenging inequity to advance justice

As we come to grips with the ways that inequality harms us all, we are in a period when the demographic makeup of the United States is rapidly changing. In the coming decades, no single racial or ethnic group will constitute a majority. While this has amplified long-standing racial anxieties, it has also bolstered hopes for broader inclusion at a time when the economy is demanding new skills, business models, and supports for workers and families. Huge advances in technology are further shaping and fueling change.

These trends give the nation an unprecedented opportunity to challenge inequality in new ways. We need to strengthen education and other systems that act as equalizing institutions—but also reform systems that are perpetuating inequality. By helping to build and reinforce positive public narratives, we can contribute to making inclusion and fairness essential ingredients of the evolving national story. When appropriate, we can focus our efforts in places where we are more likely to generate critical momentum, influence policy and the national conversation, and demonstrate replicable models for change.

By supporting our partners in the field, we will help to build a social justice infrastructure that is networked, collaborative, and durable. A core element of this is strengthening the leadership of young people, women, immigrants, and people of color as contributors to problem solving. But our approach will also include supporting movements that are connecting and engaging people across issues and identities—transcending differences in race, gender, political party, class, or citizenship to better reflect the shared hopes and realities of a changing society. Finally, we are in a position to help reimagine the practice of philanthropy, ensuring that our sector adapts to the needs of a changing nation.

Working with a broad array of partners, we can contribute to turning the tide on inequality—and help build a stronger and more inclusive America.


Grant makers in the United States

Portrait of Micaela Allen

Micaela Allen

Program Assistant, U.S. Disability Rights New York, USA
Portrait of Mehwish Ansari

Mehwish Ansari

Program Officer, Technology and Society New York, USA
Portrait of Rocio Aranda-Alvarado

Rocío Aranda-Alvarado

Senior Program Officer, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Giselle Blanco-Santana

Giselle Blanco-Santana

Program Associate, Office of the President New York, USA
Portrait of Lolly Bowean

Lolly Bowean

Program Officer, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Margot Brandenburg.

Margot Brandenburg

Senior Program Officer, Mission Investments New York, USA
Portrait of Sollana Brown-Irvin

Sollana Brown-Irvin

Impact Investing Fellow, Mission Investments New York, USA
Watermarked Ford Foundation logo against a pink background.

Ines Burbulis

Grants Manager, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Carly Burns

Carly Burns

Program Associate, Civic Engagement and Government New York, USA
Portrait of Saidou Camara.

Saidou Camara

Program Assistant, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Denise Centkowski

Denise Centkowski

Program Assistant, Civic Engagement and Government New York, USA
Portrait of Rebecca Cokley.

Rebecca Cokley

Program Officer, U.S. Disability Rights New York, USA
Portrait of Jean Cook.

Jean Cook

Director of the Office of the Vice President, US Programs New York, USA
Portrait of Kate Dildy

Kate Dildy

Program Associate, Technology and Society New York, USA
Portrait of Ritse Erumi

Ritse Erumi

Program Officer, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Sabrina Fong

Sabrina Fong

Program Officer, Civic Engagement and Government New York, USA
Portrait of José García.

José García

Director, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Jon-Sesrie Goff

Jon-Sesrie Goff

Program Officer, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Kiara Grant

Kiara Grant

Program Assistant, Civic Engagement and Government and JustFilms New York, USA
Portrait of Saba Gvetadze

Saba Gvetadze

Program Assistant, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Silvia Henriquez

Silvia Henriquez

Program Officer, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice New York, USA
Portrait of Dionaris Henriquez

Dionaris Henriquez

Program Assistant, Mission Investments New York, USA
Portrait of Jeffrey Hernandez

Jeffrey Hernandez

Senior Manager, Office of the President New York, USA
Portrait of Anita Khashu

Anita Khashu

Director, Gender, Racial and Ethnic Justice New York, USA
Portrait of Livia Lam

Livia Lam

Program Officer, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Seojin Lee

Seojin Lee

Impact Investing Fellow, Mission Investments New York, USA
Portrait of Christine Looney.

Christine Looney

Deputy Director, Mission Investments New York, USA
Portrait of Sanyu Lukwago.

Sanyu Lukwago

Program Assistant, Technology and Society New York, USA
Portrait of Lori McGlinchey.

Lori McGlinchey

Director, Technology and Society New York, USA
Portrait of Rosalie Mistades

Rosalie Mistades

Grants Manager, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Juliet Mureriwa

Juliet Mureriwa

Program Director, Office of the President New York, USA
Portrait of Genesis Nunez

Genesis Nuñez

Program Associate, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Anil Oommen.

Anil V. Oommen

Senior Manager, Grants and Program Investments, Mission Investments and Natural Resources and Climate Justice New York, USA
Portrait of Hannah Park

Hannah Park

Program Assistant, Technology and Society New York, USA
Portrait of Bryttnee Parris

Bryttnee Parris

Grants Manager, U.S. Disability Rights and Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice International New York, USA
Photo of david rogers.

david rogers

Program Officer, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice New York, USA
Portrait of Kevin Ryan.

Kevin Ryan

Senior Program Officer, Civic Engagement & Government New York, USA
Portrait of Narwan Seraj

Narwan Seraj

Grants Manager, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Maritza Silva-Farrell

Maritza Silva-Farrell

Program Officer, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Erin Simpson

Erin Simpson

Program Officer, Technology and Society New York, USA
Watermarked Ford Foundation logo against a light green background.

Liz Smith

Program Assistant, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Hanna Stubblefield-Tave.

Hanna Stubblefield-Tave

Program Assistant, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Lane Sugata.

Lane Sugata

Senior Program Officer, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Roy Swan.

Roy Swan

Director, Mission Investments New York, USA
Portrait of Lena Sze.

Lena Sze

Program Associate, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Gaylord Tang

Gaylord Tang

Program Assistant, Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice New York, USA
Portrait of Sean Thomas-Breitfeld

Sean Thomas-Breitfeld

Program Officer, Civic Engagement & Government New York, USA
Portrait of Rei Tran

Rei Tran

Technology Fellow, Mission Investments New York, USA
Portrait of Javier H. Valdés

Javier Valdés

Director, Civic Engagement and Government New York, USA
Portrait of Josh Wallack

Josh Wallack

Program Officer, Civic Engagement & Government New York, USA
Portrait of Megan Thompson.

Megan Walsh Thompson

Mission Investments Officer, Mission Investments New York, USA
Portrait of Ebony Wilkinson.

Ebony Wilkinson

Program Associate, Civic Engagement and Government New York, USA
Portrait of Chance Williams.

Chancellar Williams

Program Officer, Technology and Society New York, USA
Portrait of Erika Wood.

Erika L. Wood

Senior Program Officer, Civic Engagement and Government, Senior Advisor, Vice President of U.S. Programs New York, USA
Portrait of Chi-hui Yang

Chi-hui Yang

Director, Creativity and Free Expression New York, USA
Portrait of Danica Yu

Danica Yu

Technology Fellow, Future of Work(ers) New York, USA
Portrait of Dizzy Zaba

Dizzy Zaba

Technology Fellow, Civic Engagement and Government New York, USA