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The Ford Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$40.3M
Grant Range
$5K - $3.7M
Decision Time
2mo

The Ford Family Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: $1.13 billion
  • Annual Giving: $40,322,363 (2023)
  • Decision Time: 6-10 weeks (Technical Assistance/Good Neighbor); 3-6 months (other grants)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $3,700,000
  • Geographic Focus: Rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California
  • Application Method: Rolling basis (online portal)

Contact Details

Overview

The Ford Family Foundation was established in 1957 by Kenneth and Hallie Ford as a modest foundation to give back to the timber communities of southwest Oregon. It grew significantly in size, scope, and geography, formally becoming The Ford Family Foundation in 1996. Today, with assets exceeding $1.1 billion, the Foundation is one of the Pacific Northwest's largest private foundations. Its mission centers on creating "successful citizens and vital rural communities" in rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. The Foundation defines "rural" as communities with populations under 35,000 that are not adjacent to or part of metropolitan areas. In 2023, the Foundation distributed over $40 million through 1,943 awards. Under the leadership of President and CEO Kara Inae Carlisle, who joined in fall 2023, the Foundation continues its commitment to families, education, community development, and the arts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Open Grants (Rolling Basis)

  • Good Neighbor Grants: Support both program and capital requests, including unforeseen emergencies. Grant amounts vary widely (some small; some large). For capital projects, applicants can request up to 50% of project costs; for programs/operations, up to one-third. At least 25% of funding must be committed before applying.
  • Technical Assistance Grants: Up to $5,000 for capacity-building activities such as attending conferences, developing leadership expertise, strategic planning, or hiring external consultants.
  • Capital Projects: Support for community facilities. Requires significant community buy-in with 50% of budget raised before applying.

Specialized Programs

  • Hallie Ford Fellowships in the Visual Arts: Up to three unrestricted fellowships per year of $35,000 each to Oregon mid-career visual artists. Applications open in January via CallforEntry.org.
  • Community Fellows Program: $12,000 annual unrestricted awards to rural residents in Oregon and Siskiyou County who demonstrate commitment to community service. Eligible for up to two renewal awards.
  • Scholarship Programs: Various educational assistance programs for residents of Oregon and Siskiyou County.

Priority Areas

Family Impact

  • Strengthen connections between parents, primary caregivers, and children
  • Ensure nurturing attachments from earliest years
  • Prevent child abuse and neglect
  • Promote financial stability for families
  • Early childhood education and child care (area of increasing focus in 2025)

Education

  • Early childhood education initiatives
  • Helping children succeed in early grades
  • Postsecondary education preparation and success
  • Transition from high school to postsecondary education or careers
  • Supporting public schools and daycares

Community Development

  • Development and capacity building of rural institutions
  • Economic mobility initiatives
  • Securing federal funding for rural areas
  • Community improvement, beautification, and organizing

Arts and Culture

  • Visual arts throughout Oregon (rural and urban)
  • Arts organizations with strong outreach programs and focus on children

What They Don't Fund

  • Debt retirement, reserve accounts, or endowments
  • Organizations that discriminate based on race, ability, gender, religion, or any protected status
  • Efforts to influence elections or affect legislation
  • Individuals (except through designated scholarship/fellowship programs)
  • Housing, transportation, or basic community infrastructure (water treatment, sewage, lighting)
  • General K-12 workforce and professional development
  • Medical facilities connected to larger profit-based systems
  • Museums without a focus on children or strong outreach programs

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Kara Inae Carlisle, President & CEO (joined Fall 2023) Kara is The Ford Family Foundation's third president and CEO, bringing over 20 years of social sector experience. She previously served as vice president of programs at the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis and worked at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Her expertise spans children, youth and family development, postsecondary success, and community economic development. On her appointment, Kara said: "I am beyond thrilled to join The Ford Family Foundation at this exciting moment in the organization's journey and in this chapter of our nation's history. Having spent much of my childhood in a rural community, this work is a homecoming for me. Engaging the strength, creativity, voice and vision of rural communities is essential as we shape a hopeful future for all of us."

Previous Leadership

  • Anne Kubisch: Second president/CEO, served 10 years (retired 2023). Anne noted about Kara: "She's a natural community builder, humble learner and will bring her expertise to implement the ambitious ten-year strategic plan we have laid out for the Foundation's work."
  • Norm Smith: Founding president, served 1997-2013

Board of Directors

Toby Luther, Board Chair On the selection of new leadership: "We worked diligently to ensure that the Foundation's next president and CEO would be the right fit for our goals and the communities we serve."

Board Members include:

  • Allyson Ford: Granddaughter of Foundation founders Kenneth W. Ford and Hallie E. Ford; native of Douglas County, Oregon
  • Eric Forrest: Co-president of Bigfoot Beverages (locations in Bend, Coos Bay, Newport, Roseburg, and Eugene); co-founder of Fast Track Car Wash in Eugene; president of Riversdale Ranch Properties in Roseburg
  • Carrie Thompson: Co-owner and co-operator of Thompson Timber Company in Corvallis; manages timberland throughout western Oregon; also manages a family foundation and family-owned private equity fund

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Registration New organizations should visit the grant portal at https://fordfamily.smartsimple.com/ and click "Register a new account." You'll receive a login link to set up your password and submit your organization's profile.

Submission Process

  1. Log in to the grant portal and click "Submit an application"
  2. Applications can be saved to finish later
  3. Collaborators can be invited to help with the application
  4. Both an organization budget and project budget are required, including expenses and anticipated revenue sources

Pre-Application Consultation The Foundation strongly encourages first-time grantees to take advantage of an optional 90-minute information session with the Foundation team. This provides personalized support and ensures alignment with priorities. Contact: opengrants@tfff.org or (541) 957-5574.

Required Documentation

  • Organization budget
  • Project budget with expenses and anticipated revenue sources
  • Evidence of community support (especially important for capital projects)
  • For capital projects: documentation that 25-50% of funding is already committed

Decision Timeline

Technical Assistance and Good Neighbor Grants: 6-10 weeks from submission to decision

Other Grant Types: 3-6 months from submission to decision

Application Schedule: Rolling basis (no fixed deadlines for most programs)

Notification: Applicants are notified through the online portal system

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed, the Foundation awarded 1,943 grants in 2023, 1,879 in 2022, and 1,814 in 2021, demonstrating consistent and substantial grantmaking activity. The Foundation emphasizes its approach: "We like getting to 'yes'" and "If you have the will, we can help you find a way. We see your potential."

Reapplication Policy

For Grant Recipients: A good rule of thumb is waiting one year after a grant closes before reapplying.

Exception: Organizations with existing grants can apply for Technical Assistance grants without waiting.

For Unsuccessful Applicants: While not explicitly stated, the general guideline of waiting approximately one year before resubmitting is recommended.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Strong Community Support

Board involvement with cash, in-kind contributions, and a community campaign are key indicators that a proposal is ready. The Foundation looks for evidence that fundraising is significantly underway with traditional supporters, local businesses, key donors, and other foundations. For capital projects, 50% of the budget should be raised before applying.

Show Local and Regional Buy-In

Community participation is a primary factor in funding decisions. The Foundation wants to see that local and regional donors, individuals, and businesses have shown their support through cash and in-kind donations. This demonstrates genuine community need and commitment.

Emphasize Alignment with Rural Communities

The Foundation's core commitment is to rural Oregon and Siskiyou County communities (populations under 35,000, not adjacent to metropolitan areas). Applications should clearly articulate how the project serves and benefits rural residents and communities.

Focus on Children and Families

Projects that support children's development, strengthen family connections, and create conditions for children to succeed are particularly well-aligned with the Foundation's priorities. Recent grants show increased attention to child care and early childhood education.

Take Advantage of Pre-Application Support

First-time applicants should absolutely use the optional 90-minute information session. The Foundation provides personalized support to ensure alignment and strengthen applications before submission.

Be Transparent About Budget and Sustainability

Both organization and project budgets must be detailed and realistic, showing all anticipated revenue sources and expenses. The Foundation appreciates transparency about financial capacity and sustainability planning.

Recent Successful Projects Include:

  • Western Oregon University's Research Institute: $775,000 total for supporting childcare providers
  • Central Oregon Community College Foundation: $250,000 for expanded child care in rural areas
  • Heart of Oregon Corps: $300,000 for pathways for rural youth
  • Organizations like Lutheran Community Services, Oregon TRIO Association, Scienceworks Hands-On Museum, Wallowa Resources, Gold Beach Main Street, and Shasta Regional Community Foundation

Foundation's Philosophy

"Go to where the people are. Listen to learn. Let's work together to make things better" and "We want to find a way to work with you – we like getting to yes" reflect the Foundation's collaborative and accessible approach. President Kara Inae Carlisle's motto "If not us, together — then who?" emphasizes collective action for rural communities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Rural focus is non-negotiable: Your organization must serve communities under 35,000 population in rural Oregon or Siskiyou County, California, not adjacent to metropolitan areas.
  • Community support is paramount: Demonstrate significant local buy-in through letters of support, matching funds, and evidence of community participation before applying.
  • Use pre-application consultations: First-time applicants especially should take advantage of the 90-minute information session—the Foundation genuinely wants to help you succeed.
  • Plan your capital project timeline: For capital projects, raise 50% of your budget before applying; at minimum, have 25% committed with solid plans for the rest.
  • Technical Assistance grants are accessible: These smaller grants (up to $5,000) have faster turnaround (6-10 weeks) and can be pursued even if you have another active grant.
  • Child care and early childhood are hot topics: The Foundation is increasing focus on child care access and quality in rural areas in 2024-2025.
  • The Foundation values collaboration: Their philosophy of "getting to yes" means they're willing to work with applicants to strengthen proposals—don't be afraid to ask questions or seek guidance.

References

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