What Ford’s $2B trust-based initiative can teach fundraisers today

As government funding dries up, one philanthropic initiative is in it for the long haul, showing what it takes to build trust — and organizational resilience.

In a recent Devex Pro Funding conversation, Victoria Dunning, director of the Ford Foundation’s BUILD initiative, shared lessons from nearly a decade of investing in institutions rather than projects — and why this model may be more relevant than ever.

Launched in 2016, the Ford Foundation’s BUILD initiative — a 12-year, $2 billion commitment — offers a stark contrast to traditional grantmaking. It provides flexible, long-term support aimed at strengthening civil society institutions globally.

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