The funder's mission is to make a difference in the lives of rural children in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California by ensuring they have the necessary family, educational, and community supports to thrive.
The Ford Family Foundation's grant program prioritizes three main areas: Family, Education, and Community. For Family, it focuses on providing childcare, parent and caregiver support, family financial stability, and child abuse prevention. In Education, the foundation aims to ensure educational success for rural youth, emphasizing early childhood education, seamless transitions from early years to school and from K-12 to postsecondary education, and supporting students in completing higher education, particularly first-generation college students. The Community aspect focuses on building and sustaining vibrant rural communities through community building, economic development, and strengthening organizational capacity. Good Neighbor grants, part of this program, support various community initiatives and emergencies, offering up to $25,000 for projects that demonstrate community support and have a sustainability plan.