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 to use.

          The Seven Man contingent, proposed that the Foundation become an international philanthropy dedicated to the advancement of human welfare. In 1949, the board unanimously concurred and assented the seven man panels goal - oriented proposals.

          Henry Ford II remained a central figure over the next decades, presiding over the foundation as the chair of the board of trustees, as the Local Detroit Foundation metarmorphosized into a national and international organization.

         He retired as a trustee in 1976.

            


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