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Small Towns,
Big Futures

We believe in the power of rural communities.

Ford Family Foundation logo Oregon

The Ford Family Foundation

Supporting the people and places of rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California, with grants, scholarships and a commitment to building community.

Ford Family Foundation Apply for a Grant
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Ford Family Foundation Apply for a Scholarship
Apply for a scholarship
Ford Family Foundation Find Data Community
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Ford Family Foundation Community Building Resources
Find community building resources
Ford Family Foundation SelectBooks
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We are here to support your dreams.

ford family foundation grants

Our Grants

Grants are open year-round to support organizations serving children, families and rural communities. We want to find a way to work with you – we like getting to yes.

Ford Family Foundation Ford Scholar Conference

Our Scholarships

We support students who face significant obstacles to obtaining a college degree. If you have the will, we can help you find a way. We see your potential.

We focus on the things that matter to rural communities.

Family

Family

Providing children with a nurturing, safe and stable foundation for life.

    Family

    Education

    Education

    Helping young people attain educational success.

      Education

      Community

      Community

      Creating vibrant places that provide opportunities for everyone to prosper.

        Community

        COMMUNITY BUILDING

        “It’s not just a certain group of people who can make decisions. The power is in all of us.”

        — Martha Pérez, Neighbors working together

        GRANTS

        “It’s possible that Early Works saved the whole school district.”

        — Jerry Fauci, former Yoncalla Elementary School principal, Yoncalla Early Works

        SCHOLARSHIPS

        “It was life-altering. It gave me the freedom to balance life as a full-time student and parent.”

        — Scientist Amy Wey, Ford Opportunity Scholar wins science award

        Ford Family Foundation resources

        Our library of resources is diverse and freely available.

        Rural data and research

        We produce trusted research and information to inform rural decision-makers and community builders.

        Rural Community Building tools

        Go to where the people are. Listen to learn. Let’s work together to make things better.

        Keep them, share them. More than words — our free books help enrich your life.

        Community builders are everywhere. We’re helping them succeed.

        We have helped more than 5,000 students earn college degrees.
        We have funded 8,000+ grants to build the futures rural communities want to see.
        We have distributed more than 35,000 free SelectBooks to readers across our region.

        News and Stories

        Dive into inspiring stories of community, ingenuity and action about the people who call rural Oregon and Siskiyou County their home.

        Daisy Tapia Gonzalez

        Alumni build bridges to higher education

        The Alumni Ambassador program has grown in recent years, as ambassadors are carefully chosen to represent priority demographics. Their expertise helps surmount language, geographic, gender and other barriers as they seek out and engage with potential scholars.
        Read More
        Tim Inman

        Bringing Rural Voice to the Table

        Veteran policy strategist Tim Inman joins the Foundation as its first Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer. Tim will support policy agenda development and implementation, as well as external engagement and communications.
        Read More