The Ford Foundation
New York, New York · EIN 131684331 · Private foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $760.8M in grants paid and $17.81B in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 21,813 individual grants from this funder — $4.71B awarded across 2017–2024 — including its support for adult education. Below is its full funding profile.
What The Ford Foundation funds
The Ford Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, arts education, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include black communities, children, disabled, families, foster youth, hispanic communities.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Ford Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc Core support for the Justice and Mobility Fund to accelerate economic mobility through criminal justice reforms for people with convictions | New York, NY | $19.2M | 2020 |
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc CORE SUPPORT FOR THE JUSTICE AND MOBILITY FUND TO ACCELERATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS FOR PEOPLE WITH CONVICTIONS | New York, NY | $18.7M | 2023 |
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc CORE SUPPORT FOR THE JUSTICE AND MOBILITY FUND TO ACCELERATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS FOR PEOPLE WITH CONVICTIONS | New York, NY | $16.9M | 2022 |
| Institute of International Education Inc For the Global Travel and Learning Fund to administer travel awards small grants to organizations and other programrelated learning activiti | New York, NY | $15.5M | 2017 |
| Institute of International Education Inc For The Global Travel And Learning Fund To Administer Travel Awards Small Grants To Organizations And Other Program Related Learning Activit | New York, NY | $15.0M | 2018 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc CORE SUPPORT FOR THE ABUNDANT FUTURES FUND (FORMERLY, THE NEW IMMIGRATION FUND), A NATIONAL FUNDER COLLABORATIVE TO ENGAGE NEW DONORS AND SI | New York, NY | $15.0M | 2024 |
| Blue Meridian Partners Inc CORE SUPPORT FOR THE JUSTICE AND MOBILITY FUND TO ACCELERATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS FOR PEOPLE WITH CONVICTIONS | New York, NY | $12.7M | 2024 |
| National Academy of Sciences For the Ford Fellowships Program for predoctoral, dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships | Washington, DC | $11.0M | 2020 |
| National Academy of Sciences FOR THE FORD FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAM FOR PREDOCTORAL, DISSERTATION AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS | Washington, DC | $10.6M | 2022 |
| National Academy of Sciences For the Ford Fellowships Program for predoctoral dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships | Washington, DC | $10.6M | 2019 |
| National Academy of Sciences For the Ford Fellowships Program for predoctoral dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships | Washington, DC | $10.1M | 2018 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc Core support for the Reproductive Health and Women's Rights Collaborative | New York, NY | $10.0M | 2020 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc CORE SUPPORT FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS COLLABORATIVE | New York, NY | $10.0M | 2022 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc Core support for the Reproductive Health and Womens Rights Collaborative | New York, NY | $10.0M | 2019 |
| National Academy of Sciences For the Ford Fellowships Program for predoctoral dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships | Washington, DC | $9.8M | 2017 |
The Ford Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at fordfoundation.org.
Is The Ford Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
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Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The Ford Foundation
- Does The Ford Foundation accept grant applications?
- The Ford Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The Ford Foundation fund?
- The Ford Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include Blue Meridian Partners Inc, Blue Meridian Partners Inc, Blue Meridian Partners Inc. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The Ford Foundation give in grants?
- The Ford Foundation reported $760.8M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $4.71B over 21,813 grants.
- Where is The Ford Foundation located?
- The Ford Foundation is based in New York, New York. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 131684331.
- How can I find foundations similar to The Ford Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Ford Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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