A Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation’s first annual report. It is a pleasure to share this report with you, not only because it marks an institutional milestone for our Foundation, but also because it gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude to the many people and partners whose confidence, generosity, and commitment make our work possible.

First, I want to thank the Trustees of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. Their faithful leadership, wise counsel, and devotion to President Ford’s legacy provide the steady hand by which this Foundation is governed. At every turn, our Board has strengthened our resolve to pursue excellence, to serve the public trust, and to ensure that the Foundation remains worthy of the good name it bears.

I also wish to express deep appreciation to our Friends of Ford members and, indeed, to all our donors and supporters. Your generosity in the past and in the current FORD50 Campaign has sustained our mission in ways both visible and unseen. Through your support, we are able to advance programs, partnerships, education, and public engagement that honor the life, character, and example of America’s 38th President. You remind us that this work belongs not only to an institution, but to a wider civic community that believes integrity, public service, and historical understanding still matter.

We are likewise profoundly grateful for our many partnerships, above all, with the National Archives and Records Administration. Our colleagues at NARA are indispensable partners in preserving and interpreting the records, memory, and meaning of the Ford presidency. Together, we work to ensure that the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum remain places of learning, reflection, and civic encounter for all who enter them.

As this annual report shows, the Foundation is committed not only to impact, but also to accountability. We believe that those who support our mission deserve a clear and honest account of what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how we are stewarding the resources entrusted to us.

President Ford was a Navy man, so it seems fitting to say that we aim to run a tight ship: disciplined in our operations, prudent in our stewardship, and always mindful of the trust placed in us. We want this report to reflect that spirit.

A few 2025 highlights:

At the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, our task is both to remember the legacy and to carry forward the virtues President Ford embodied: decency, candor, courage, humility, and a deep sense of duty to the country he loved. In a time when such virtues can seem in short supply, our mission is both historical and forward-looking. We preserve a legacy, yes, but we also seek to make that legacy come alive for each rising generation.

Thank you for your trust in our work. Thank you for the many ways you help us strengthen this indispensable institution. And thank you for joining us as we continue to build on a legacy of service that remains of enduring importance to our nation.

With gratitude,

Executive Director
Gerald R. Ford
Presidential Foundation

Gleaves Whitney