The Ford Foundation has appointed Fatima Goss Graves to its Board of Trustees. Goss Graves is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Women’s Law Center and President of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, bringing experience in law, policy, advocacy, and organizational leadership to the foundation’s governing board.
Goss Graves is a nationally recognized expert on gender justice, law, policy, and culture change. As an attorney, she has worked on issues involving economic security and COVID relief, equal pay, health and reproductive rights, education access, workplace justice, sexual harassment, and violence, with a particular focus on women and girls of color.
The Ford Foundation said her background combines legal analysis with advocacy and systems-change work, giving the board additional perspective on how policy, institutions, and philanthropy intersect. Goss Graves has testified on complex policy matters at state and federal levels and has appeared as a legal and social commentator across major television, radio, and print outlets.
She also serves on several boards in advisory and governance capacities and is based in Washington, D.C. Goss Graves is a graduate of UCLA and Yale Law School. Ford Foundation trustees are elected by the board and serve six-year terms, with responsibilities that include setting policies around grantmaking, geographic focus, investments, governance, and professional standards.
The Ford Foundation has operated for 90 years and works globally on inequality, democratic values, poverty reduction, international cooperation, and human achievement. The organization has an endowment of approximately $18 billion, headquarters in New York, and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
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“We are thrilled to welcome Fatima Goss Graves’s perspective and expertise to the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees. Fatima’s track record speaks for itself, her strategic vision, fearless advocacy, and proven ability to drive meaningful organizational and systemic change make her an invaluable addition to our Board of Trustees.”
Ursula Burns, Chair Of The Ford Foundation Board Of Trustees
“Fatima Goss Graves possesses a sharp legal intellect, exceptional sector insight, and a steadfast dedication to justice. I could not be more excited to welcome her to the Board of Trustees. Across Fatima’s career, her strategic vision and formidable advocacy have broadened pathways for communities everywhere, particularly women and girls of color. Her presence and insights will be invaluable as we enter the next chapter of the Ford Foundation.”
Heather Gerken, President Of The Ford Foundation
“I am deeply honored to join the Board of Trustees and work alongside the Ford Foundation’s extraordinary leadership. I have dedicated my career to ensuring that all people can live with safety, dignity, and full agency over their lives and that women and their families have what they need to flourish. I am eager to bring that same commitment to Ford’s vital mission in the years ahead.”
Fatima Goss Graves, Member Of The Ford Foundation Board Of Trustees
