In an inspiring collaboration, Lisa Ford and her husband Bill, the Executive Chair of Ford Motor Co., have launched a visionary campaign to bolster the future of Detroit-based youth organizations. In partnership with The Children’s Foundation, the Fords aim to secure a minimum of $10 million to establish permanent endowments for ten deserving nonprofits focused on serving the city’s younger population.
Endowments offer increased financial stability, allowing nonprofits to draw annual returns to support their operations. The chosen Detroit nonprofits will be announced in June. They will each receive $500,000 that will enable them to launch an endowment, and they will have the opportunity to grow the endowment through matching contributions and fundraising efforts.
Lisa Ford’s approach was shaped by prior successful fundraising endeavors and a belief in the power of collaboration to effect meaningful change. The campaign’s innovative approach to endowment selection will involve community input, emphasizing a broad spectrum of services eligible for support. The initiative seeks to challenge the norm, where only a fraction of nonprofits are privileged to have endowments. Experts in the field of philanthropy advocate for endowments as a means of ensuring generational equity and organizational stability.
By fostering a financially secure environment for youth-focused nonprofits, the Fords and The Children’s Foundation aim to create a lasting impact, ensuring these vital organizations can continue their work for generations to come.