leader

Heather Gerken

President of the Ford Foundation

Background

Heather Gerken is the 11th president of the Ford Foundation.

The foundation's release describes her as a nationally recognized expert in democracy and constitutional law, and Fortune reports that she left Yale Law School to run the foundation.

About Ford Foundation

Ford Foundation: Ford Foundation is a private foundation that is headquartered in New York and whose mission is to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement.

Key facts

Position: 11th president of the Ford Foundationsource
Previous role: Left Yale Law School to run the Ford Foundationsource
Expertise: Nationally recognized expert in democracy and constitutional law, per the foundationsource

WYDE coverage of Heather Gerken

WYDE Newsroom has published one article about Heather Gerken, on Oct 24, 2026. Heather Gerken is a named leader in 1 story. The most recent is Ford Foundation Strategy Overhaul: Seven Funding Areas, About $700 Million Expected in 2027.

Philanthropy

Ford Foundation Strategy Overhaul: Seven Funding Areas, About $700 Million Expected in 2027

The $18 billion foundation's first strategic refresh in over a decade reorganizes its grantmaking into seven funding areas, with strategies rolling out through 2027.

Oct 24, 2026 · 4 min read · Quoted or named as leader

Reported alongside Heather Gerken

Ford Foundation · in 1 story with Heather Gerken

Sources

Follow the money in philanthropy.

Who gives, who receives, and what it funds. Every Friday.