The Ford Family Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation headquartered in Roseburg, Oregon. Established in 1957 by Kenneth and Hallie Ford as a modest foundation to support timber communities in southwest Oregon, it formally became The Ford Family Foundation in 1996. Today, it operates as one of the Pacific Northwest's largest private foundations, with a focus on rural philanthropy—an area that receives less than 5% of national philanthropic funding.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1B
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$37.4M
-7.3% YoY
Grant Count
1,992
+2.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-9.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ford Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $55.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: "Successful citizens and vital rural communities"
The Foundation invests through grants, scholarships, and community building to create conditions for children to have the family, educational, and community supports they need to succeed in life. The Foundation defines "rural" as communities with populations under 35,000 that are not adjacent to or part of metropolitan areas.
Core Beliefs:
- The power of rural communities and their role as the backbone of democracy
- The importance of finding common cause and mobilizing collective effort
- That every person deserves the opportunity to thrive
Program Areas:
- Scholarship programs (Ford Opportunity Scholars, Ford Scholars, Ford Transfer Scholars, Ford Sons & Daughters)
- Capital projects supporting community facilities
- Community development and capacity building
- The arts
- Human services
- Education
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $5,000 - $3,700,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus: Rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California
The Foundation serves communities throughout rural Oregon and extends support to Siskiyou County, California. It maintains a Scholarship Office in Eugene and employs five field coordinators based in rural towns throughout the region to support local community building efforts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $1.14 billion (2024)
Annual Revenue: $81.2 million (2024)
Annual Expenses: $56.9 million (2024)
Total Liabilities: $15.9 million (2024)
Total Grants Awarded: Approximately 1,943 awards in 2023; 2,000+ grants annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,143,428,817 | $1,125,032,912 | $1,085,195,597 |
| Revenue | $81,181,123 | $54,265,021 | $33,550,834 |
| Expenses | $56,867,219 | $59,489,862 | $59,124,528 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $52,941,591 | $55,718,916 | $56,551,007 |
| Net Investment Income | $83,878,807 | $49,591,260 | $44,864,867 |
| Distributable Amount | $55,360,967 | $52,889,085 | $54,682,109 |
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 ABC House ($190,000), A Greater Applegate ($125,000), ABC House ($65,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Greater Applegate Jacksonville, OR | Applegate Valley Creative Placemaking Project (FRLF) | $50,000 |
| A Greater Applegate Jacksonville, OR | Community Building & Economic Development | $125,000 |
| A Greater Applegate Jacksonville, OR | The Summer of Applegate Neighborhood Gatherings | $2,500 |
| ABC House Albany, OR | Protect Our Children | $65,000 |
| ABC House Albany, OR | Sustainably Serving Children Impacted by Abuse | $190,000 |
| Abreu J Roseburg, OR | Educational Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Abushanab W Roseburg, OR | Educational Scholarship | $15,192 |
| ACCESS Medford, OR | Rogue Power Pack | $23,000 |
| Ackley L Roseburg, OR | Educational Scholarship | $8,700 |
| Adamson C Roseburg, OR | Educational Scholarship | $19,062 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Kara Inae Carlisle – President and CEO (joined fall 2023)
- Aden Bliss – Chief Financial and Operations Officer
- Donna Wolford – Assistant Secretary
- Denise Callahan – Director, Program Support Services
- Keavy Cook – Director, Community Youth and Families
The Foundation maintains a board of directors and employs approximately 41-62 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Ford Family Foundation announced 2025 scholarship recipients
The Ford Family Foundation announces 2025 scholarship recipientsThe Ford Family Foundation announced 2024 scholarship recipients
The Ford Family Foundation announces 2025 scholarship recipients29 Oregon artists received Career Opportunity Program grant awards (2026)
29 OREGON ARTISTS RECEIVE CAREER OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM GRANT AWARDS \u2013\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ford Family Foundation fund?
**Mission:** "Successful citizens and vital rural communities" The Foundation invests through grants, scholarships, and community building to create conditions for children to have the family, educational, and community supports they need to succeed in life. The Foundation defines "rural" as communities with populations under 35,000 that are not adjacent to or part of metropolitan areas. **Core Beliefs:** • The power of rural communities and their role as the backbone of democracy • The importa…
How do I apply for a grant from The Ford Family Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $5,000 - $3,700,000 **Typical Awards:** $29 - $1,200,000 (median grant size approximately $10,000) **Annual Giving:** $40.3 million (2023-2024) **Application Process:** • Rolling basis through online portal • Optional 90-minute information session available for first-time grantees • Decision time varies: 6-10 weeks for Technical Assistance and Good Neighbor grants; 3-6 months for other grants **Active Grant Programs:** • Ford Opportunity Scholars Program • Ford Scholarships • F…
Where does The Ford Family Foundation make grants?
Primary focus: Rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California The Foundation serves communities throughout rural Oregon and extends support to Siskiyou County, California. It maintains a Scholarship Office in Eugene and employs five field coordinators based in rural towns throughout the region to support local community building efforts.
What size grants does The Ford Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ford Family Foundation awarded 1,992 grants totaling $37.4M — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ford Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ford Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $55.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ford Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ford Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-6026156. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ford Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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