Our Good Neighbor grants are always open. Learn more.

Small Towns,
Big Futures

We believe in the power of rural communities.

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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
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Ford Family Foundation Find Data Community
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Ford Family Foundation Community Building Resources
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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.

All Grants
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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.

All Scholarships

We focus on the things that matter to rural communities.

Family

Family

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

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    Family

    Education

    Education

    Helping young people attain educational success.

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      Education

      Community

      Community

      Creating vibrant places that provide opportunities for everyone to prosper.

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        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.

        Learn

        Rural Community Building tools

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

        Explore

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

        Read

        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.

        Pinwheels for Prevention

        Supporting families, preventing harm

        Last month, we celebrated Child Abuse Prevention Month — a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to keep kids safe, especially in rural communities across Oregon where resources can be limited and families face unique challenges.
        Read More
        Green Coast Market

        The backbone of rural Oregon’s economy

        Launched in 2021, GRO currently supports four rural communities to build a network — a community ecosystem — that wraps around in support of local entrepreneurs. Find inspiration for ways to support small business in your community from these standout examples.
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        Credit: Mariah Rocker

        Telling her story

        There is little chance now that Black settler Letitia Carson’s story will recede from memory. Her story is one of resilience, persistence and triumph. One of Carson’s most memorable claims to history is as an early Black homesteader in two Oregon locations.
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        Author Richard Reeves with Umpqua Community College President Rachel Pokrandt

        Exploring trends on boys and men

        Richard Reeves, author of “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It”, talked about declining male enrollment and other complex and concerning trends before a packed auditorium at Umpqua Community College.
        Read More