Thank you for visiting our web site. We are a private, non-profit foundation located in Roseburg, Oregon.

Roseburg is near the confluence of the North and South Umpqua Rivers in Southwest Oregon. The "Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua" cut through from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, where tall timber prospers.

The Ford Family Foundation has its roots here, too. Started in 1957, we grew considerably in the '90's. The Foundation now manages initiatives and makes grants to public charities in small and mid-size communities in rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Our heritage comes from such communities and the men and women in the forest products industry who created them.

We hope you will enjoy reading about the Fords and the work of the Foundation that will carry on their commitment to giving back to others for generations to come.

In 1936, Kenneth W. Ford pursued a vision with a single sawmill in the southern Oregon community of Roseburg. From his initiative and tenacity grew Roseburg Forest Products Co., one of the largest, family-owned wood products manufacturers in the nation. The same ingenuity and capacity for hard work that brought Mr. Ford success in the business world also characterized his commitment to "building community."

In 1957, Kenneth and Hallie Ford established a modest foundation to give back to the timber communities of southwest Oregon. It grew in size, scope, and geography to become The Ford Family Foundation in 1996, with its main office in Roseburg, Oregon, and its scholarship office in Eugene.

Mission

Successful Citizens and Vital Rural Communities

The Values of its founders guide the Foundation in performing its responsibilities:

Integrity - Promoting and acknowledging principled behavior.

Stewardship - Responsibility to give back and accountability for resources and results.

Respect - Valuing all individuals.

Independence - Encouraging self-reliance and initiative.

Community - Working together for positive change.