Ford Foundation to Enhance Focus on Democracy Amid Rising Autocracy and Inequality

The Ford Foundation, one of the largest private grantmakers in the world, has announced a significant reallocation of its resources to address what its new leadership sees as an increasing connection between autocracy and inequality. This shift, which was communicated on Thursday, aims to invest more in fundamental democratic structures.

President Heather Gerken, who has been in her role for less than a year, highlighted in a report that these changes reflect an amplified form of authoritarianism in the 21st century. The foundation plans to introduce seven new initiatives next year that will focus on areas including democratic governance, economic inclusivity, and racial justice. Gerken pointed out that the preservation of rule of law and functioning elections is critical to the foundation’s broader mission of supporting marginalized communities and promoting equality.