Rooted in rural, the Foundation relentlessly pursues happy, healthy lives for kids by amplifying the power and promise of rural communities through grantmaking, scholarships, research, convening and community capacity building.
The Ford Family Foundation’s grantmaking is built around rural Oregon communities, with funding that reaches children, families, schools, and local institutions. One of its clearest recent priorities is rural early learning: in 2025 it gave $275,000 to Western Oregon University Development Foundation for the Rural Early Learning Facilities Improvement Project, alongside $250,000 to Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board for the Prenatal to Grade 3 Project. The foundation also backs child welfare infrastructure, including $523,000 to Tides Center in 2025 for Protect Our Children - Tides Center - 1522 and $367,500 to Oregon CASA Network for Strengthening Oregon's CASA Network, 2022-2024. These awards sit within a portfolio that includes education, youth development, family supports, nonprofit capacity building, and rural community development. The foundation’s recent grants also show support for physical spaces and local services, from a community center rebuild in Vida to a new health clinic in Maupin. Its pattern suggests attention to both direct support for children and the organizations and facilities that serve rural places over time.
Early childhood and parenting education are major themes in the foundation’s work. In 2023 it gave $1,000,000 to Oregon Community Foundation for the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC), and in 2023 it awarded $290,000 to Children’s Institute for Yoncalla Early Works. Rural early learning facilities also appear in 2025 through a $275,000 grant to Western Oregon University Development Foundation for the Rural Early Learning Facilities Improvement Project. Child welfare is another clear area: the foundation provided $523,000 to Tides Center in 2025 for Protect Our Children - Tides Center - 1522 and $350,000 to Hearts With A Mission in 2023 for Safe Families for Children Oregon Collaborative. For rural economic development, it gave $500,000 to Community LendingWorks for Rural Economic Development via a Revolving Loan Fund and $300,000 to Rural Development Initiatives Inc for Responsive Support and Capacity Building for Rural Communities.
Typical grant sizes cluster in the low five figures: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $9,712, and the p75 is $18,940. The recent list also includes several larger awards, which suggests a mix of smaller grants and targeted higher-dollar investments. The foundation funds both organizations and individuals, and its classification is a regular funder. The recent grants show repeated support to some recipients across years, including Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon CASA Network, Hearts With A Mission, and Nonprofit Association of Oregon, which points to multi-year relationships rather than one-off awards. The portfolio also includes advised-fund activity, shown by a 2023 contribution to Oregon Community Foundation.
Current and upcoming funding from Ford Family Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Typically requires 25% committed before applying; can request up to 1/3 for programs/operations and up to 50% for capital; must show community support and sustainability.
Deadline: No fixed deadline stated; typically response in six to 10 weeks.
$37.2M
$1.1B
$81.2M
$56.9M
Most grants fall between $5K and $19K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$19K
About 95% of grants go to recipients in OR.
Kara I Carlisle
President
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Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Oregon, which accounts for 95% of grants. Portland appears frequently among recipients, including Oregon Community Foundation, Nonprofit Association of Oregon, and Foundations for A Better Oregon. Other Oregon recipients include Corvallis, Bend, Medford, Coquille, Monmouth, and Roseburg. Outside Oregon, the foundation still gives locally and has recent awards to organizations in San Francisco and Los Angeles through Tides Center, plus a grant to Siskiyou County Job Council in Yreka, California. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports rural nonprofits, schools and education organizations, child and family service providers, community development groups, and local infrastructure partners. Recent grants include nonprofit capacity building, early learning, child welfare, rural economic development, and community facilities such as libraries, clinics, and community centers.
Typical awards are modest: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $9,712, and the 75th percentile is $18,940. The recent grant list also includes larger, targeted awards, such as seven-figure support for Oregon Community Foundation and six-figure grants for education and child-focused projects.
Yes. The recent list shows repeat support to Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon CASA Network, Hearts With A Mission, and Nonprofit Association of Oregon across 2023 and 2025. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships and multi-year support in some program areas.
Oregon is the main state for grantmaking, with 95% of grants going to recipients there. Portland shows up often in the recent list, alongside other Oregon cities such as Corvallis, Bend, Medford, Coquille, Monmouth, and Roseburg.
Yes. In addition to education and early childhood, the foundation funds rural economic development, child welfare, healthcare access, and community infrastructure. Recent examples include a revolving loan fund for rural economic development, a new health clinic in Maupin, and library and community center projects.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Who can apply: Projects should benefit rural children and align with Bright Futures priorities. Applicants use Open Grants portal or contact staff for larger funding.
Deadline: Rolling for Open Grants; larger requests follow staff-guided timelines.
Who can apply: Generally for organizations with annual budgets under $1 million, though exceptions are possible. A 10% cash match is required.
Deadline: No fixed deadline stated; typically response in six to 10 weeks.
Who can apply: Projects should meaningfully benefit rural children and families in Oregon or Siskiyou County and align with Strong Starts priorities; applicants follow open grants or larger grant processes.
Deadline: Open/rolling (via Open Grants) or by staff-guided timeline for larger initiatives.
Who can apply: Projects should materially improve community infrastructure or gathering spaces and primarily benefit rural residents in the Foundation's region. Larger capital requests should be discussed with staff prior to applying.
Deadline: Rolling for Open Grants; contact-guided timelines for larger capital grants.
Who can apply: Serving Oregon and Siskiyou County, California; strong community buy-in expected; larger requests should align with funding priorities; nonprofits and community organizations are the primary applicants.
Deadline: Applications are always open; grant decisions typically take six to ten weeks for Technical Assistance and Good Neighbor grants, and three to six months for other grants.
Who can apply: Requests must align with Foundation funding priorities. Applicants are asked to contact staff before applying.
Deadline: Applications accepted year-round; some strategic initiatives are invitation-only.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tides Center | San Francisco, CA | $523,000 | 2025 | Protect Our Children - Tides Center - 1522 |
| Nonprofit Association of Oregon | Portland, OR | $437,000 | 2025 | 2024 Rural Nonprofit Capacity Building |
| Oregon CASA Network | Portland, OR | $350,000 | 2025 | Strengthening Oregon's CASA Network |
| Hearts With A Mission | Medford, OR | $300,000 | 2025 | Safe Families for Children Oregon Collaborative |
| Oregon Community Foundation | Portland, OR | $275,000 | 2025 | Oregon Child Care Alliance |
| Western Oregon University Development Foundation | Monmouth, OR | $275,000 | 2025 | The Rural Early Learning Facilities Improvement Project |
| Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board | Coos Bay, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | Prenatal to Grade 3 Project |
| City of Coquille | Coquille, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | New Library Building Renovation |
| Foundations for A Better Oregon | Portland, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | Extension 2024 - Operating Support |
| Warm Springs Community Action Team | Warm Springs, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | Pavilion Campus |
| The Campbell Institute | Portland, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | Remote Rural Coaching and Professional Learning |
| Central Oregon Community College Foundation | Bend, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | Expanding Healthcare and Childcare Opportunities in Rural Oregon |
| North Bend Public Library Foundation | North Bend, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | Library Renovation |
| Siskiyou County Job Council | Yreka, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | Carnegie Library Building Renovation Project |
| Glide Revitalization | Glide, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | Glide Revitalization Community Resource Center |
| Umpqua Community College | Roseburg, OR | $209,500 | 2025 | Dual Credit Expansion |
| College Options | Redding, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | College and Career Options Siskiyou Plus Oregon Project |
| ABC House | Albany, OR | $190,000 | 2025 | Sustainably Serving Children Impacted by Abuse |
| Douglas Education Service District | Roseburg, OR | $185,000 | 2025 | Early Childhood Behavioral Health Consultation - Phase 3 |
| City of Mosier | Mosier, OR | $175,000 | 2025 | The Mosier Community Center |
| Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | $170,000 | 2025 | Building Statewide Infrastructure for Parenting Education |
| University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | $164,745 | 2025 | RARE Host Site/Program Support - 2024-25 |
| Greater Oregon STEM Hub | La Grande, OR | $160,000 | 2025 | Bringing STEM to Rural Eastern Oregon Communities |
| Urban Institute | Washington, DC | $151,285 | 2025 | Data-to-Action for Parenting Students at Rural Oregon Colleges |
| The Contingent | Portland, OR | $150,000 | 2025 | EVERY CHILD - Rural Expansion, Capacity Building, Evaluation Technology |
| Family Building Blocks | Salem, OR | $150,000 | 2025 | Doris's New Place: Santiam Canyon's Relief Nursery |
| Association of Oregon Counties | Salem, OR | $146,956 | 2025 | Association of Oregon Counties: County College |
| Douglas Education Service District | Roseburg, OR | $143,692 | 2025 | Biz4Kids & Childcare Coalition |
| Portland Institute for Contemporary Art | Portland, OR | $142,225 | 2025 | Exhibition+Documentation and Capital Improvement Grants Partnership |
| Thrive Umpqua | Roseburg, OR | $135,000 | 2025 | Thrive Umpqua - Building Neighborhood and Family Resilience |
| Lutheran Community Services Northwest | McMinnville, OR | $130,000 | 2025 | Relief Nurseries in Klamath and Yamhill |
| Douglas Education Service District | Roseburg, OR | $130,000 | 2025 | Rural Home Visiting Systems Coordination |
| A Greater Applegate | Jacksonville, OR | $125,000 | 2025 | Community Building & Economic Development |
| University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | $125,000 | 2025 | Strengthening Equity-Based Schools Training |
| Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council | Bend, OR | $125,000 | 2025 | Central Oregon Rural Community Building Program |
| Rural Development Initiatives Inc | Coburg, OR | $125,000 | 2025 | RDI Community Economic Development |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | $120,000 | 2025 | NCII Rural Guided Pathways Project |
| Peace at Home Advocacy Center | Roseburg, OR | $120,000 | 2025 | Creating Community Resilience |
| City of La Pine | La Pine, OR | $120,000 | 2025 | La Pine Small Business Incubator Project |
| McKenzie Valley LTRG of Lane County | Blue River, OR | $118,871 | 2025 | Recovery, Resilience, Preparedness Lane County and Oregon |
| Oregon Infant Mental Health Association | Eugene, OR | $118,000 | 2025 | Organizational Development and Capacity Building |
| Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board | Coos Bay, OR | $115,000 | 2025 | Home Visiting Systems Coordination |
| Play It Foward Inc | Coos Bay, OR | $115,000 | 2025 | VITA Tax Program |
| Citizens4Community | Sisters, OR | $105,000 | 2025 | Community Building in Sisters Country |
| Douglas Education Service District | Roseburg, OR | $105,000 | 2025 | Education Data Enhancement Project |
| Oregon Health & Science University Foundation | Portland, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | System/Child-Level Social-Emotional Health Metric & Rural Communities |
| South Lane Family Nursery | Cottage Grove, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | Supporting Vulnerable Families North Douglas Program Expansion |
| Capaces Leadership Institute | Woodburn, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | Primeros Pasos Early Childhood Education & Care |
| Baker Relief Nursery | Baker City, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | Stable Support for Rural Families |
| FIRST 5 Siskiyou Children and Families Commission | Mt Shasta, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Siskiyou Perinatal through 5 Initiative |
Tides Center
$523,000Protect Our Children - Tides Center - 1522
Nonprofit Association of Oregon
$437,0002024 Rural Nonprofit Capacity Building
Oregon CASA Network
$350,000Strengthening Oregon's CASA Network
Hearts With A Mission
$300,000Safe Families for Children Oregon Collaborative
Oregon Community Foundation
$275,000Oregon Child Care Alliance
Western Oregon University Development Foundation
$275,000The Rural Early Learning Facilities Improvement Project
Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board
$250,000Prenatal to Grade 3 Project
City of Coquille
$250,000New Library Building Renovation
Foundations for A Better Oregon
$250,000Extension 2024 - Operating Support
Warm Springs Community Action Team
$250,000Pavilion Campus
The Campbell Institute
$250,000Remote Rural Coaching and Professional Learning
Central Oregon Community College Foundation
$250,000Expanding Healthcare and Childcare Opportunities in Rural Oregon
North Bend Public Library Foundation
$250,000Library Renovation
Siskiyou County Job Council
$250,000Carnegie Library Building Renovation Project
Glide Revitalization
$250,000Glide Revitalization Community Resource Center
Umpqua Community College
$209,500Dual Credit Expansion
College Options
$200,000College and Career Options Siskiyou Plus Oregon Project
ABC House
$190,000Sustainably Serving Children Impacted by Abuse
Douglas Education Service District
$185,000Early Childhood Behavioral Health Consultation - Phase 3
City of Mosier
$175,000The Mosier Community Center
Oregon State University
$170,000Building Statewide Infrastructure for Parenting Education
University of Oregon
$164,745RARE Host Site/Program Support - 2024-25
Greater Oregon STEM Hub
$160,000Bringing STEM to Rural Eastern Oregon Communities
Urban Institute
$151,285Data-to-Action for Parenting Students at Rural Oregon Colleges
The Contingent
$150,000EVERY CHILD - Rural Expansion, Capacity Building, Evaluation Technology
Family Building Blocks
$150,000Doris's New Place: Santiam Canyon's Relief Nursery
Association of Oregon Counties
$146,956Association of Oregon Counties: County College
Douglas Education Service District
$143,692Biz4Kids & Childcare Coalition
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art
$142,225Exhibition+Documentation and Capital Improvement Grants Partnership
Thrive Umpqua
$135,000Thrive Umpqua - Building Neighborhood and Family Resilience
Lutheran Community Services Northwest
$130,000Relief Nurseries in Klamath and Yamhill
Douglas Education Service District
$130,000Rural Home Visiting Systems Coordination
A Greater Applegate
$125,000Community Building & Economic Development
University of Oregon
$125,000Strengthening Equity-Based Schools Training
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council
$125,000Central Oregon Rural Community Building Program
Rural Development Initiatives Inc
$125,000RDI Community Economic Development
New Venture Fund
$120,000NCII Rural Guided Pathways Project
Peace at Home Advocacy Center
$120,000Creating Community Resilience
City of La Pine
$120,000La Pine Small Business Incubator Project
McKenzie Valley LTRG of Lane County
$118,871Recovery, Resilience, Preparedness Lane County and Oregon
Oregon Infant Mental Health Association
$118,000Organizational Development and Capacity Building
Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board
$115,000Home Visiting Systems Coordination
Play It Foward Inc
$115,000VITA Tax Program
Citizens4Community
$105,000Community Building in Sisters Country
Douglas Education Service District
$105,000Education Data Enhancement Project
Oregon Health & Science University Foundation
$100,000System/Child-Level Social-Emotional Health Metric & Rural Communities
South Lane Family Nursery
$100,000Supporting Vulnerable Families North Douglas Program Expansion
Capaces Leadership Institute
$100,000Primeros Pasos Early Childhood Education & Care
Baker Relief Nursery
$100,000Stable Support for Rural Families
FIRST 5 Siskiyou Children and Families Commission
$100,000Siskiyou Perinatal through 5 Initiative