Ford Philanthropy
Ford Philanthropy is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, established in 1949 as the Ford Motor Company Fund. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, it operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization completely separate from the Ford Foundation (founded in 1936 and located in New York). Ford Philanthropy partners with communities and nonprofits to advance innovation, empower people, promote social mobility, and improve community prosperity through grantmaking, community centers, employee volunteerism, and mobility-based solutions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$205.8M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$43.1M
+11.0% YoY
Grant Count
231
+7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$187K
+2.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ford Philanthropy reported a distributable amount of $6.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Partner with communities to move people forward and upward.
Core Impact Areas:
- Essential Services: Partnering with local community organizations and nonprofits to expand access to food, healthcare, transportation, and other critical services in communities where Ford has roots
- Education for the Future of Work: Building pathways to education and preparing students for high-skilled careers
- Entrepreneurship: Connecting innovators with capital, mentorship, and training to expand opportunities for business ownership and diversify the entrepreneur community
Special Emphasis Areas:
- Education initiatives that empower people to envision and lead change in their communities and lives
- New approaches to learning
- Safety, through the Ford Driving Skills for Life program
- Community life, including hunger relief, health, and cultural activities
- Employee volunteerism
- Arts, cultural, and civil rights organizations
Grantmaking
Ford Philanthropy supports organizations working on essential services, education for the future of work, and entrepreneurship. The organization operates Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL), a network of educators, employers, and community leaders committed to transforming secondary schools and regional workforce development systems, designed to increase graduation and college-going rates and prepare students for high-skilled careers.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Ford Philanthropy focuses on communities where Ford has roots, with particular emphasis on Detroit and Michigan. The organization has a global reach, supporting more than 5 million people around the world through partnerships and programs. The organization maintains presence in South Africa and the United Kingdom in addition to its U.S. operations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Data:
- Revenue: $53,071,640
- Expenses: $42,257,602
- Total Assets: $195,000,000
- Total Liabilities: $7,440,000
Historical Impact: Ford Philanthropy and Ford Motor Company have made more than $2.3 billion in philanthropic contributions since 1949.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $205,843,476 | $195,032,102 | $180,129,635 |
| Revenue | $55,220,167 | $53,071,640 | $51,656,043 |
| Expenses | $43,469,423 | $42,257,602 | $37,841,900 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $44,530,858 | $40,929,286 | $38,163,946 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,884,072 | $3,088,023 | $1,647,235 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,906,246 | $6,484,466 | $6,299,203 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Childrens Hospital of Michigan Foundation ($1,000,000), American National Red Cross ($600,000), Accounting Aid Society ($341,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCELERATE 500 WASHINGTON, DC | ENTREPRENUERSHIP | $340,000 |
| ACCELERATE4 KIDS FOUNDATION DETROIT, MI | ESSENTIAL SERVICES | $90,000 |
| ACCOUNTING AID SOCIETY DETROIT, MI | FORD COMMUNITY CENTERS | $341,000 |
| AFFIRMATIONS COMMUNITY CENTER FERNDALE, MI | ESSENTIAL SERVICES | $50,000 |
| AFFIRMATIONS COMMUNITY CENTER FERNDALE, MI | EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERING | $10,000 |
| ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS DETROIT, MI | ESSENTIAL SERVICES | $40,000 |
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND DENVER, CO | SCHOLARSHIP | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | DISASTER RESPONSE | $600,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS - MID-WEST TN CHAPTER JACKSON, TN | BETTER WORLD | $6,000 |
| ARAB AMERICAN AND CHALDEAN COUNCIL (ACC) TROY, MI | ESSENTIAL SERVICES | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY E CULLER | CHAIR, PRESIDENT, TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| DAVID A WEBB | TREASURER, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN E OSGOOD | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| BRANDON M WARRINGTON | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| NICHOLAS F FORD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE O'CALLAGHAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KEVIN C LEGEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KIERSTEN K ROBINSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LINDSEY F BUHL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JASON W INGLE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER SMITH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DIANNE CRAIG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID W MCCLELLAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, Ford Philanthropy supported more than 5 million people globally through partnerships and programs, connecting families with nutritious food, providing access to transportation and education, and rebuilding communities following worldwide disasters.
Ford Motor Company Fund Invests $5M to Address Gaps in Access to TransportationThe organization has expanded scholarship programs in partnership with dealers to address the auto tech shortage and support advanced manufacturing education. Ford Philanthropy has also launched the West Tennessee Capital Grants Program and continues to invest in transportation access initiatives across multiple U.S. cities.
Ford Motor Company Fund Invests $5M to Address Gaps in Access to TransportationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Ford Philanthropy fund?
**Mission:** Partner with communities to move people forward and upward. **Core Impact Areas:** • **Essential Services:** Partnering with local community organizations and nonprofits to expand access to food, healthcare, transportation, and other critical services in communities where Ford has roots • **Education for the Future of Work:** Building pathways to education and preparing students for high-skilled careers • **Entrepreneurship:** Connecting innovators with capital, mentorship, and tra…
How do I apply for a grant from Ford Philanthropy?
Ford Philanthropy supports organizations working on essential services, education for the future of work, and entrepreneurship. The organization operates Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL), a network of educators, employers, and community leaders committed to transforming secondary schools and regional workforce development systems, designed to increase graduation and college-going rates and prepare students for high-skilled careers. Recent grantmaking activity includes a $5 million inves…
Where does Ford Philanthropy make grants?
Ford Philanthropy focuses on communities where Ford has roots, with particular emphasis on Detroit and Michigan. The organization has a global reach, supporting more than 5 million people around the world through partnerships and programs. The organization maintains presence in South Africa and the United Kingdom in addition to its U.S. operations.
What size grants does Ford Philanthropy award?
In 2024, Ford Philanthropy awarded 231 grants totaling $43.1M — an average of about $187K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ford Philanthropy required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ford Philanthropy reported a distributable amount of $6.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ford Philanthropy's EIN?
Ford Philanthropy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-1459376. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ford Philanthropy's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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