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Gerald R Ford Foundation

EIN 38-2368003 · Grand Rapids, MI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 37% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION FOSTERS INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE LIFE, CAREER, VALUES, AND LEGACY OF AMERICA'S 38TH PRESIDENT. IT DOES SO THROUGH ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE HIGH IDEALS OF INTEGRITY, HONESTY, AND CANDOR THAT DEFINED PRESIDENT FORD'S EXTRAORDINARY CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE. THE FOUNDATION PROMOTES THE IDEALS, VALUES, COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND HISTORICAL LEGACY OF PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD AND FURTHER PROMOTES GREATER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND RECOGNITION OF INTEGRITY WHEREVER IT EXISTS IN THE PUBLIC ARENA. IT SUPPORTS PERMANENT AND CHANGING EXHIBITS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HISTORICAL LITERACY; CONFERENCES; EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND OTHER PROGRAMS, BOTH SCHOLARLY AND POPULAR, AT THE GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
37%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
12
Volunteers
38
Highest pay
$309,256, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 68% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 492% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    37% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 of 38 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $544,517 spent. ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY THE FOUNDATION INCLUDE SMITHSONIAN QUALITY FEATURE EXHIBITS, NOTED SPEAKERS, AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. THIS INCLUDES PROGRAMS CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRESIDENCY WITH - THE DAY THAT ROCKED AMERICA AND BEGAN A NEW ERA, DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN - NAVIGATING THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS, TRUSTED ELECTIONS CONFERENCE W/ MIKE FORD AND JASON CARTER. LANDMARK FIRST LADIES CONFERENCE W/ FLARE AND AMERICAN UNIVERSITY HONORING BETTY FORD, AMERICA'S FIRST LADIES LUNCHEON W/ KEYNOTE SPEAKER FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN.
  2. $416,824 spent. FOUNDATION SUPPORT OF THE GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM IN 2024 INCLUDED THE PAYMENTS FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY PRESIDENCY EXHIBIT - FORD AT 50 DECISIONS THAT DEFINED A PRESIDENCY AND THE BETTY BLIP: BETTY FORD'S BATTLE AGAINST BREAST CANCER.
  3. $44,140 spent. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDING JOURNALISM PRIZES, RESEARCH GRANTS, AND INTERNSHIPS. JOURNALISM PRIZES RECOGNIZE REPORTORIAL EXCELLENCE AND THE FOSTERING OF BETTER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESIDENCY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE. TWO $5,000 PRIZES WERE AWARDED IN 2024. RESEARCH GRANTS SUPPORT RESEARCH IN THE HOLDINGS OF THE FORD PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY. FIFTEEN GRANTS TOTALING $21,400.00 WERE AWARDED IN 2024. MUSEUM INTERNSHIPS OFFER COLLEGE STUDENTS PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE DURING 240 HOURS OF WORK AT THE FORD PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM AND INCLUDE A $1,000 STIPEND UPON COMPLETION. THREE INTERNSHIPS WERE GRANTED IN 2024 TOTALING $3,000.00. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES ITS CIVIC INITIATIVE PROGRAMS INCLUDING, DEVOS LEARNING CENTER AND THE FORD LEADERSHIP FORUM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.