On this episode of 1A, an NPR broadcast show, Darren Walker speaks with Joshua Johnson about Ford’s philanthropic vision and examples of Ford’s work including monuments and historical markers, criminal justice reform and inequality in America.


Published on 1A | April 4, 2018

Moving From Generosity To Justice: A Conversation With The Ford Foundation President

Philanthropy is marvelous, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “On Being A Good Neighbor”

Ford Foundation President Darren Walker says these words have been a guiding light in his approach to leading the philanthropy with a goal of tackling the root causes of inequality in society.

We talk to Walker about his path from growing up poor in rural Texas to leading a foundation with a $13 billion endowment and $600 million in annual grantmaking.

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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