Ford Foundation Grants

Open Ford Foundation grants

• Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs

  Deadline: Dec 1, 2026open

  Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs is sponsored by Ford Foundation. Provides fellowships for individuals committed to a career in teaching and resear...

  higher_educationeducation_researchfellowshipacademic careerteaching

• Ford Foundation Grants for Livelihood Opportunities

  open

  Ford Foundation Grants for Livelihood Opportunities is sponsored by Ford Foundation. The Ford Foundation supports visionary leaders and organizations ...

  economic_developmentcommunity_developmentsocial_scienceinternational_developmentlivelihood opportunities

• Civic Engagement and Government - India Focus

  open

  Civic Engagement and Government - India Focus is a grant from the Ford Foundation that funds social justice, civic participation, and economic equity ...

  community_developmenteconomic_developmentcivil_rightssocial_sciencecivic engagement

• Heartland Initiative

  open

  The Heartland Initiative is a grant program from the Ford Foundation that funds visionary leaders and organizations in the Midwest, South, Appalachia,...

  economic_developmentcommunity_developmentrural_developmentworkforce_developmenteconomic opportunity

• JustFilms Documentary Film Production Grants

  open

  JustFilms Documentary Film Production Grants is sponsored by Ford Foundation. Supports artist-driven, feature-length documentary films that intersect ...

  civil_rightsfilm_mediasocial_sciencedocumentary filmsocial justice

• Project Idea Submission (General Inquiry)

  open

  Project Idea Submission (General Inquiry) is a limited grant opportunity from the Ford Foundation that allows organizations to submit project ideas al...

  civil_rightseconomic_developmentinternational_developmentdemocracy_governancecommunity_development

• Technology and Society Program Grants

  open

  Technology and Society Program Grants is a grant program from the Ford Foundation that funds work at the intersection of digital technologies and soci...

  ai_ethics_researchai_social_gooddigital_literacycivil_rightssocial_science

• The BUILD Program

  open

  The BUILD Program is a grant initiative from the Ford Foundation that provides five years of general operating support combined with targeted organiza...

  community_developmentcivil_rightseconomic_developmentsocial justiceflexible funding

• Ford Foundation - Future of Work(ers) India

  open

  Ford Foundation - Future of Work(ers) India is a grant from Ford Foundation. Future of Work(ers) - Ford Foundation The nature of work is changing—and ...

  workforce_developmenteconomic_developmentsocial_sciencecommunity_developmentfuture of work

• Natural Resources and Climate Justice (Grant Program)

  open

  Natural Resources and Climate Justice is a grant program from the Ford Foundation that supports efforts to ensure historically disadvantaged communiti...

  environmental_justiceclean_energyclimate_changecommunity_developmentsocial_science

• Disability Rights Program

  open

  Disability Rights Program is sponsored by Ford Foundation.

  disabilitycivil_rightssocial_sciencedisability rightsinclusion

• Ford Foundation Legal Aid Support

  open

  Ford Foundation Legal Aid Support is a grant program from the Ford Foundation that funds legal services and access-to-justice initiatives aligned with...

  civil_rightscommunity_developmentlegal aidaccess to justicelegal services

• Ford Foundation Grants

  open

  Ford Foundation Grants is sponsored by Ford Foundation. Funds projects that address social justice issues, including economic development and human ri...

  social_scienceeducation_researchcommunity_developmenttransformative ideasscalable solutions

• Ford Foundation JustFilms Program

  open

  Ford Foundation JustFilms Program is a grant from the Ford Foundation that funds artist-driven, feature-length documentary films that creatively inter...

  civil_rightsfilm_mediacommunity_developmentdocumentary filmsocial justice

• Civic Engagement and Government Global Program

  open

  Civic Engagement and Government Global Program is a grant program from the Ford Foundation that invests in individuals, ideas, and institutions that a...

  civil_rightscommunity_developmentdemocracy_governancesocial_sciencecivic engagement

• General Support

  open

  General Support is sponsored by Ford Foundation. Provides general support to nonprofit organizations in the journalism sector.

  community_developmentcivil_rightsjournalismmedianews

• The Ford Foundation Open Source Grants

  open

  The Ford Foundation Open Source Grants is a grant program from the Ford Foundation supporting organizations that leverage open source technology to ad...

  ai_social_goodcivil_rightscommunity_developmentdigital_literacysocial_science

• Justice and Mobility Fund

  open

  Justice and Mobility Fund is sponsored by Ford Foundation. This fund supports organizations striving to boost economic mobility and strengthen the lif...

  economic_developmentreentrycivil_rightscommunity_developmentyouth_development

• Ford Foundation JustFilms Grants Program

  open

  Ford Foundation JustFilms Grants Program is sponsored by Ford Foundation. Supports documentary filmmakers passionate about social justice.

  civil_rightsdisabilitydocumentaryfilmsocial justice

• Ford Foundation Affordable Housing Capital (Program-Related Investments)

  open

  The Ford Foundation Affordable Housing Capital Program is a grant and program-related investment from the Ford Foundation that funds nonprofit organiz...

  affordable_housingcommunity_developmenteconomic_developmentaffordable housingpredevelopment

How to apply for Ford Foundation grants

Most Ford Foundation applications require: an organizational profile with mission and programs, a project proposal aligned with the funder's stated priorities, a project budget, and supporting attachments (IRS determination letter, board list, recent financials). Many private and community foundations require a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before a full proposal — see our guide below.