The Ford Foundation’s Values and Grant Letter
The Ford Foundation and the organizations that we support seek to:
reduce poverty and injustice,
promote democratic values,
increase international cooperation, and
advance human achievement.
This work rests on our shared commitment to engagement with diverse
peoples, to non-violence, and to the rule of law. Ford’s grantmaking has always
reflected these values, including when we support people struggling for freedom
against harsh repression or other difficult circumstances. We believe this is what the
public expects and has a right to expect from a philanthropic and charitable
organization.
In January, 2004, the Ford Foundation added text to our standard letter that all
grantees worldwide must sign to receive funds, stating that grantees will not use
Ford or other resources to promote or engage in violence, terrorism, bigotry or the
destruction of any state. We did so for two reasons. First, some of our grantees
work in places of conflict and violence as well as in other challenging contexts
around the globe. We want to send a very clear message about our values to
applicants and others, including people who may question the aims and character of
our work. Second, by communicating the responsibilities that we take very
seriously, the new language helps protect the freedom from undue regulation that
charitable philanthropic organizations now enjoy.
To date, Ford has issued hundreds of the new grant letters around the world, and
nearly all of the grantees that received them have signed and returned them to us.
We have also received a large number of letters, emails, and other messages
expressing appreciation for our clear statement of values in this period in which
concerns abound about prejudice, violence, and terrorism.
We have, however, also heard from a small number of grantees with concerns about
the implications of our new grant letter language, for example with regard to
academic freedom on college and university campuses. In response, we have stated
unequivocally that we support academic freedom and do not intend to interfere with
the speech of faculty and students on university campuses. Our grant letter relates to
the official speech of the university and to the speech that the university explicitly
endorses. In other exchanges, we have stated clearly the distinction between
promoting the destruction of a state, prohibited by our grant letter, and expressing a
critique of government policy. We vigorously support the promotion and protection
of constitutional rights and fund organizations around the world that engage in test
case litigation and legal representation, and more broadly, the defense of civil and
human rights, even when these are controversial.
The Ford Foundation remains committed to these fundamental principles as we
work with men and women around the globe.
July 29, 2004