THE FORD FOUNDATION STORY
How It All Started "Today we are stewards of a $16 billion endowment, making $500 million in grants around the world every year" In 1936, "Henry" and "Edsel" Ford, established the Ford Foundation with an initial gift of $25,000. In it's early years it was manned by the leadership of the Ford Family in Michigan. According to it's foundational constitution, resources were to be pulled together for "scientific, educational and magnanimous purposes, all for the public welfare" After the death of Henry and his son, Edsel in the mid-1940's, their endowments turned Ford Foundation into the largest philanthropy in the world. Edsel's eldest son, Henry Ford II became the President of the Foundation, as he and the board of trustees inaugurated a blue ribbon panel, led by, H. Rowan Gaither, to explore how the foundation could best put it's resources ...