This is the 25th year that the Greater Detroit chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals has hosted the National Philanthropy Day awards, honoring top volunteers, donors, and funders.


Published in Crain’s Detroit Business

Ford Foundation: Continuing legacy of community giving

By Emell Derra Adolphus

When the Ford Foundation was created in Detroit in 1936 from an initial gift of $25,000 from Edsel Ford, the foundation was to be used for “scientific, educational and charitable purposes, all for the public welfare.”

Eighty years later, the foundation’s mission is reflected in its investments worldwide and in the local community, including an estimated $238.5 million to programs and institutions in Detroit in the form of scholarships and grants, according to the foundation.

The Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

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