Susan Berresford

Susan Berresford is an American philanthropist and foundation executive who served as the president of the Ford Foundation from 1996 to 2007. She was the first woman to lead the Foundation, one of the world's largest and most influential philanthropic organizations. During her tenure, she significantly shaped its global grantmaking strategy, emphasizing human rights, democratic governance, and community development. Her career at the Ford Foundation spanned nearly four decades, establishing her as a pivotal figure in modern institutional philanthropy.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, she was raised in a family with a strong commitment to public service and intellectual pursuits. She attended the Brearley School, a prominent independent school in Manhattan. She pursued her higher education at Radcliffe College, the women's coordinate institution for Harvard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Her academic background and early exposure to social issues laid a critical foundation for her future career in the philanthropic sector, particularly within the complex, international framework of the Ford Foundation.

Career at the Ford Foundation

She joined the Ford Foundation in 1970 as a program assistant in the National Affairs Division. She quickly advanced through the ranks, holding increasingly responsible positions that involved designing and managing grants across a wide array of issues. Key early roles included work in the Urban Poverty and Community Development programs, where she focused on initiatives in major American cities like Detroit and New York City. She later moved into international programming, serving as a representative in the Ford Foundation's office in Lagos, Nigeria, gaining firsthand experience with the challenges of development in West Africa. By 1989, she had risen to become vice president for the United States and Latin America programs, overseeing a significant portion of the foundation's global portfolio.

Leadership and impact

Appointed president in 1996, succeeding Franklin A. Thomas, she steered the Ford Foundation through a period of strategic refocusing and financial recalibration following a major review of its assets and mission. Under her leadership, the foundation consolidated its programs into three core areas: Asset Building and Community Development; Peace and Social Justice; and Knowledge, Creativity and Freedom. She championed major initiatives such as the Difficult Dialogues program on American college campuses and significantly increased support for human rights organizations globally, including the International Center for Transitional Justice and Human Rights Watch. Her presidency was also marked by a decisive effort to strengthen civil society in regions like the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia following the end of the Cold War.

Board memberships and other roles

Following her retirement from the Ford Foundation in 2007, she has remained highly active in the nonprofit and corporate governance spheres. She has served on the boards of numerous prestigious organizations, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Her corporate board service includes directorships at Pfizer Inc., the global pharmaceutical company, and State Street Corporation, a major financial services firm. She also served as a trustee of her alma mater, Harvard University, and continues to advise various philanthropic entities on strategy and governance.

Awards and recognition

Her contributions to philanthropy and public service have been widely recognized. She is a recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts, awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. She has been honored with multiple honorary doctorate degrees from institutions such as Yale University, University of Michigan, and New York University. Other notable accolades include the Order of the Condor of the Andes from the Government of Bolivia and the Leo Baeck Medal from the Leo Baeck Institute. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Philosophical Society.

Category:American philanthropists Category:Ford Foundation people Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:Radcliffe College alumni