Ford Foundation to Redirect Billions to Strengthen Democracy

The Ford Foundation, one of the world's largest private grantmakers, announced a significant strategic shift to dedicate more resources toward bolstering democracy. This recalibration, less than a year into President Heather Gerken's tenure, aims to counter what leadership identifies as the mutually reinforcing growth of autocracy and inequality.

Gerken, an expert in constitutional law and elections, described the changes in the context of an "emboldened strain of 21st-century authoritarianism." The foundation plans to launch seven new programs focused on democratic governance, inclusive economies, trustworthy information, public safety, gender equality, global cooperation, and racial justice. These initiatives are expected to be detailed over the coming year.

"If you don’t have a rule of law, if you don’t have an election system that functions, all the other values that Ford cares about, all the other projects that Ford has done over the years, fall apart," Gerken told The Associated Press. "So, protecting marginalized communities, pushing forward on equality, protecting the climate, all of these depend on those basic building blocks."

This marks the foundation's most substantial strategic refresh since 2015, when its endowment of $18 billion was prioritized by former president Darren Walker to address inequality. The Ford Foundation, already a leading grantor in democracy-related initiatives, views this new direction as a necessary extension of its previous focus.

The announcement comes amid a period of heightened strain on democratic institutions in the United States and globally. Recent midterm election cycles have seen partisan redistricting efforts and the weakening of voting rights legislation. An April survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicated a decline in the number of U.S. adults who consider democracy central to the country's identity, while international monitors have raised concerns about deteriorating political rights and civil liberties worldwide.

Philanthropic funding for democracy-related causes has seen an increase in recent years. Foundation funding in this area reportedly tripled between 2016 and 2020, according to the nonprofit research service Candid. Other major foundations have also committed substantial resources, with George Soros' Open Society Foundations pledging $300 million in May for initiatives to defend democratic rights.

In response to funding constraints that have affected the philanthropic sector, the Ford Foundation has committed to providing larger, multiyear general operating support grants. Gerken noted that organizations with more flexible funding have demonstrated greater resilience. This commitment integrates lessons from the foundation's discontinued Building Institutions and Networks program, which offered flexible funding for general operations.

Sanjiv Rao, vice president of the Democracy Fund, emphasized the need for sustained, generalized funding for pro-democracy nonprofits, noting its importance in avoiding the "boom and bust cycle that we know will happen during election years." Rao also advocated for an expansive definition of pro-democracy work, stating that "Groups that are galvanizing their communities around issues of shared concern, regardless of what those issues are, are all pro-democracy groups."

Gerken reaffirmed the foundation's commitment to supporting LGBTQ causes, racial justice, and other work benefiting marginalized communities, highlighting a doubling of the foundation's immigration budget this year. She stated, "Those are places where not everyone is staying. We are staying."

Historically, the foundation has navigated politically charged environments, supporting civil rights litigation in the 1960s and defending free speech during the McCarthy era. Gerken stressed that the foundation's work is nonpartisan, citing an $80 million allocation this year to nonprofits working to safeguard election results, including Pillars of the Community, which aims to build public confidence in voting systems.

While acknowledging the potential for deep polarization, Gerken indicated that the foundation is exploring strategies to bolster democratic institutions in such an environment.

Beginning in January 2027, Ford Foundation staff will transition to three temporary units to manage existing grants while implementing new ones, ensuring continuity of support. The foundation anticipates moving approximately $700 million in grants for 2027, with potential adjustments based on emerging needs and endowment growth. Some existing programs will eventually be sunsetted, though details on which grantees may be affected have not yet been released.