Ford Fund nonprofit rebrands as Ford Philanthropy, aligning name with automaker mission

Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press
Updated 2 min read
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The nonprofit Ford Fund, fueled by contributions from Ford Motor Co. for projects ranging from disaster relief after tornados, hurricanes and flooding to educational opportunities, announced Monday its official name has changed to Ford Philanthropy.

Established in 1949, Ford and Ford Philanthropy have made $2.3 billion in contributions, with $73.7 million donated in 2023 directly benefiting 3.5 million people, Ford Philanthropy said in a news release.

The Ford Fund is not affiliated with the more famous Ford Foundation, which was established in 1936 with a financial gift from Edsel Ford and is based in New York City. There have been no direct operational ties between Ford Motor Co. and the Ford Foundation since the mid-1970s. The Ford Foundation is known for its cultural, arts and social justice investments. Henry Ford III, great-great grandson of the founder of the Dearborn automaker, joined the board of the Ford Foundation five years ago.

Volunteers from the nonprofit Team Rubicon conduct cleanup efforts in Mayfield, Kentucky, in December 2021 after a tornado ripped through the area. A Ford F-150 is seen in the background, as the company has been providing vehicles for disaster relief through its charitable Ford Fund, whose name is changing to Ford Philanthropy.
Volunteers from the nonprofit Team Rubicon conduct cleanup efforts in Mayfield, Kentucky, in December 2021 after a tornado ripped through the area. A Ford F-150 is seen in the background, as the company has been providing vehicles for disaster relief through its charitable Ford Fund, whose name is changing to Ford Philanthropy.

The Ford Fund alone has devoted more than $1.5 billion to nonprofits and civic organizations, with a focus on community life, education, safe driving and volunteerism worldwide, the news release said.

In 2023, Bill Ford announced a multimillion-dollar commitment over five years to Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization in the U.S. The commitment includes $2.5 million to the nonprofit's reserve fund plus 10 Ford F-150 Hybrid trucks, three Ford F-150 Lightning trucks, two Ford Super Duty trucks and two Ford Bronco SUVs. In 2022, the Ford Fund made headlines for a transformational gift to Spelman College in Atlanta.

More: Ford Fund loses senior leader: Where she's working now

The name change, which Ford Philanthropy calls a "strategic rebranding," underscores Ford’s enduring mission to make the world a better place. Priorities remain the same. But the new name clarifies and emphasizes the mission.

Ford Fund President Mary Culler discusses the launch of Ford Fund's new disaster relief effort with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led organization focused on disaster relief at Ford Motor Company World Headquarters in Dearborn on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
Ford Fund President Mary Culler discusses the launch of Ford Fund's new disaster relief effort with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led organization focused on disaster relief at Ford Motor Company World Headquarters in Dearborn on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

“Giving back has been an integral part of Ford’s history and values since the very beginning,” Mary Culler, president, Ford Philanthropy, said in the news release. “Our rebrand honors our rich history and better reflects our core mission of partnering with communities to help move people forward and upward. Whether we’re connecting families with fresh food, helping neighborhoods rebuild after a disaster or expanding access to careers in mobility, at Ford Philanthropy, we are passionate about working with our local partners and employee volunteers to help build equity and drive progress in Ford communities around the world.”

The annual Impact Report states that the entity partnered with 470 nonprofits and community organizations, providing 55,000 Ford employee volunteer hours in 31 countries. Financial gifts are made through grants.

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-222-6512 orphoward@freepress.com.Follow her on Twitter@phoebesaid. Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Ford Fund nonprofit was renamed to Ford Philanthropy

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