Civil Society

Ford Foundation and New Israel Fund announce $20 million fund for grant making in Israel

New York, New York, October 10, 2003—The Ford Foundation and New Israel Fund today announced a new peace and social justice fund to support organizations in Israel that are working to strengthen the country's democracy and advance human rights, equality, and peace for its citizens. A five-year, $20 million grant from the Ford Foundation will establish the fund, increase the Foundation's annual funding in Israel and shift future grant making from its offices in New York City to the New Israel Fund (NIF), an organization playing a vital role on the ground in Israel.

Since 1988, the Ford Foundation has provided over $5 million in support to the New Israel Fund, a philanthropic partnership of Israelis, North Americans and Europeans. The new fund will strengthen this long-standing organizational collaboration and bring the Foundation's Israel grant making closer to the people it serves.

The grant builds on the Ford Foundation's long-term commitment to funding in Israel. With total spending of more than $50 million since 1948, Ford has supported the advancement of science and technical research, civil and human rights, social justice, Arab-Israeli relations, and regional conflict resolution efforts.

"As the people of Israel face unprecedented challenges, the Ford Foundation believes it is more important than ever to affirm our long-standing commitment to organizations in Israel that will strengthen the chances for stability and peace and reduce suffering and conflict," said Susan V. Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation. "This grant to the New Israel Fund will increase our funding in Israel and help build the capacity of civic organizations vital to strengthening its democracy. It also reflects Ford's tradition of helping to expand philanthropic capacity around the world."

The new Peace and Social Justice donor advised fund will be guided by an advisory committee of leaders from within Israeli civil society, which will meet on a regular basis in Israel. NIF and the Ford Foundation will also be represented on the committee. Aaron Back, formerly the Ford Foundation's program officer for Israel, will serve as Director of the fund.

"The New Israel Fund welcomes this new partnership," said Peter Edelman, Chair of the NIF Board. "It reflects a convergence of the missions of Ford and NIF. It will ensure continuity for Ford's long-standing commitment in the area. The closer connection—a partnership that also will reflect our separate identities—will make a huge difference for the cause of justice in Israel," he said.

The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant making organization. For more than half a century it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation, and advancing human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Russia.

Since its founding in 1979, NIF (http://www.nif.org) has granted over $120 million to more than 700 organizations in Israel dedicated to safeguarding civil and human rights, bridging social and economic gaps, and fostering tolerance and religious pluralism. Through an integrated strategy of grant making, technical assistance and coalition building, NIF nurtures and develops grassroots organizations that become the backbone of Israel's civil society. NIF has its administrative headquarters in Washington, D.C. and bases its grant making and capacity building operations in Jerusalem.

The Ford Foundation's Grant Making in Israel

The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than half a century it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia.