New York, United States, November 2025 — With a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility, Heather K. Gerken has officially begun her tenure as the 11th President of the Ford Foundation, marking what she describes as the “honor of my professional life.” In her first statement to the global philanthropic community, Gerken expressed humility, optimism, and a profound appreciation for the mission entrusted to the foundation since its inception.
Gerken extended heartfelt thanks to all who welcomed her into the role and offered support during her transition. She also paid tribute to her predecessor, Darren Walker, acknowledging his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment over the past twelve years to combating inequality in all its forms. “We are forever in his debt,” she noted, honoring his legacy of strengthening justice, rights, and opportunity worldwide.
Reflecting on the Ford Foundation’s origins, Gerken revisited the mandate set by Henry Ford II and the trustees exactly 75 years ago, charging the institution with advancing “the ideals and principles of democracy.” These ideals—equal rights, equal opportunity, tolerance, respect for differences, free speech, free association, and the rule of law—remain central to the foundation’s mission. Throughout its history, the foundation has stood firmly in defense of democratic values, supporting leaders, ideas, and movements committed to promoting human rights and strengthening civic life.
Gerken emphasized the foundation’s legacy of empowering visionaries—from Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Ruth Bader Ginsburg—and investing in ideas that have reshaped societies for the better. The Ford Foundation has also played a pivotal role in building public institutions such as public education systems and public media platforms.
“The fight to advance the ideals and principles of democracy is not merely the celebrated work of our past. It is the urgent work of our moment,” Gerken declared, underscoring the increasing global pressures on democratic systems.
As she embarks on her presidency, Gerken reaffirmed that strengthening democracy and protecting the rule of law are central to her life’s work. She pledged that the Ford Foundation will intensify its financial and human capital investment to safeguard these principles. The approach, she stressed, will remain strictly nonpartisan, seeking alliances across the ideological spectrum to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to speak, vote, and engage in solving society’s most pressing issues.
Looking ahead, Gerken signaled a period of evolution for the foundation—an evolution driven not by leadership transition, but by global realities. With political polarization intensifying and philanthropic resources increasingly strained against growing needs, she called for reflection, innovation, and renewal.
Gerken shared her intent to question assumptions, broaden the institution’s lens, welcome diverse thought partners, and honestly assess both successes and shortcomings. She expressed eagerness to collaborate with the foundation’s community to imagine its next chapter.
Despite the changes ahead, Gerken reaffirmed constants that anchor the foundation: equality as a guiding value, the foundation’s dual identity as both a U.S. and global institution, and its commitment to impactful work across American cities, rural communities, and international landscapes.
She also highlighted the joy and passion that fuels the foundation’s mission. In her early days in office, Gerken noted her admiration for the community’s strength, selflessness, and strategic acumen. “I am intensely grateful for the chance to join all of you in the challenge of changemaking,” she said.
Gerken concluded with a message of hope and determination: “Together, we will protect, preserve, and pass forward all that has been entrusted to us.”
About the Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For nearly 90 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation operates from its headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
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