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2024 Concordia Leadership Award: Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation

SpeakerS:

Bart Friedman, Partner & Senior Counsel, Cahill, Gordon & Reindel
Princess Mabel van Oranje, Co-Founder, VOW for Girls
Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation
Anita McBride, Executive in Residence, American University

“When you're at a foundation, you don't have any demand... so the impetus has to be self-generated, and the urgency has to come from the board, from the CEO, and the ability to talk about risk is really critical to that.” Darren Walker
“What lessons do you have for us in terms of saying, okay, here's a new idea, it might work, it might not work, but if we don't test it, it will definitely fail?” Princess Mabel van Oranje
“Commitment and community, warmth and wit, intelligence and intensity—those are the words that really help define Darren.” Bart Friedman

Key takeaways:

  • The importance of addressing structural inequalities: Darren Walker emphasized that philanthropy should focus on tackling underlying structural challenges rather than just alleviating symptoms, highlighting that addressing root causes is essential for meaningful and lasting change. 
  • Leveraging philanthropy’s risk capital: Walker pointed out that philanthropy has access to significant risk capital, which should be utilized more effectively to drive transformative innovations and support promising ideas, especially in times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • Planning effective leadership transitions: Discussing his forthcoming departure from the Ford Foundation, Walker underscored the importance of planning transitions thoughtfully to maintain institutional integrity and avoid the corrupting influence of prolonged power. 
  • Reimagining philanthropy’s role in social justice: The conversation highlighted Walker’s efforts in redefining philanthropy to be more committed to social justice, ensuring that philanthropic efforts contribute to reducing disparities and improving standards of living. 

 

Action items:

  • Support initiatives addressing root causes: Encourage and invest in programs and organizations that aim to tackle the fundamental structural issues leading to inequality and injustice, rather than those that only provide temporary relief. 
  • Utilize risk capital for innovation: Advocate for philanthropic organizations to deploy their available risk capital towards innovative solutions that address public health preparedness, prevention, and resilience in society. 
  • Ensure responsible leadership succession: Promote the development of succession plans in institutions to facilitate smooth transitions, preserving the organization’s mission and preventing stagnation or corruption due to prolonged tenures. 
  • Champion social justice in philanthropy: Support philanthropic models that prioritize social justice, aiming to reduce disparities across race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and gender, thereby contributing to a more equitable society. 

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