Ford Family Foundation President Announces Retirement

The Ford Family Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Anne Kubisch has announced her retirement, effective late 2023. During her nearly 10 years in the position, the Foundation has seen significant growth in resources, staff and capacity for connecting with and advocating for rural communities. Scholarship programs have reached thousands of students, supporting a generation of alumni equipped to lead and serve. The rural community building movement has gained momentum across the region, and children and their families have benefited from stronger local supports and more rural-responsive public systems. Open door grantmaking continues to provide flexible funding to meet urgent rural needs. The leaders, students and advocates of rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California, are equipped to create futures where rural children and communities thrive. "Anne Kubisch led the Foundation through a time of great change,” Board Chair Toby Luther said in the press release. “Under her leadership over the last decade, we have built the capacity of the Foundation to serve our rural friends and neighbors better.” Kubisch will continue to lead the implementation of a newly launched strategic plan for the next year as the Foundation seeks a successor. “What attracted me to this position was the community building spirit embedded throughout all the Foundation does,” says Kubisch. “It is the greatest honor of my career to lead this amazing organization. I love my job, my colleagues and the goals we share. I know that the Foundation will carry on our ambitious work and maintain the same grounded ethos of connection and collaboration with those we serve. After all, wisdom lies in community.” Kubisch is the second president of The Ford Family Foundation. Her tenure followed the founding president, Norm Smith, who served from 1997 to 2013. The Ford Family Foundation’s Board of Directors will conduct a national search for the next president and chief executive officer who will serve the Foundation and communities. The search process will begin in early 2023. For the whole press release, go to https://www.tfff.org/general-article-news-stories-etc/anne-kubisch-retire-ford-family-foundation?fbclid=IwAR1rVrumKIaUet05AELfQ1qvZa1TxfIxhcQ17VeerNMR76hTtJ2iyF49-kE *** Photo of Anne Kubisch from The Ford Family Foundation Facebook post.