• Message from the President
• Letter from the Chair
• 
  VALUES IN ACTION
• Economic Opportunity
• Strengthening Democracy
• Access to Education
• 
  Global Reach and Impact
• Our 2007 Grantees
• 
  Mission Statement
• Our Staff
• Our Leadership
• Our Governance
• Financial Review

Ford’s work is about giving voice, opportunity and access to the disadvantaged and marginalized. Susan brought an unshakable commitment to that work, extending its depth and reach during her distinguished tenure.

In Luis we found a successor who shares that strong commitment to the mission and values of the foundation. He brings to Ford as well a rare mix of vision, intellectual curiosity, managerial experience and deep respect for humanity – vital attributes as we seek to better lives in a world of urgent challenges and rapid change.

There are other departures to honor and another welcome to offer. Three board members concluded their service to the foundation: Wilmot James, chief executive of the Africa Genome Education Institute in South Africa, whose probing mind kept us ever mindful of injustices in countries where we work; Yolanda T. Moses, professor of anthropology at the University of California at Riverside, an unrelenting optimist who always sees the possibility of a more inclusive and tolerant society; and Carl B. Weisbrod, president of the real estate division of Trinity Church in New York City, whose broad range of experience helped us balance the perspectives of donor and grantee. The special qualities these trustees brought to the foundation enriched us all.

It also gives me great pleasure to welcome Narayana N.R. Murthy to the board. As co-founder, chairman of the board and chief mentor of Infosys Technologies, a leading software services firm based in Bangalore, India, he is widely respected as a leader in international business and information technology and an advocate of strong corporate governance. We look forward to benefitting from his counsel.

This is a moment to celebrate the foundation’s recent past, as well as those who contributed mightily to its achievements. It is equally a moment to ask ourselves how Ford might most meaningfully build on those achievements, a challenge the board has embraced with enthusiasm, together with our new president and staff.