Fulfilling the Dream Fund

The Fulfilling the Dream Fund (Dream Fund) was established in 2004 with a $10 million pledge by the Ford Foundation. Funds raised by other donors are matched on a one-to-one basis.

The Dream Fund supports efforts that:

Improve public understanding of systemic barriers to opportunity and the benefits to society of increased racial and gender diversity,
Expand philanthropic support for affirmative action,
Demonstrate the links between racial/gender exclusion and systemic flaws in education and employment that affect the broader public, and
Create more platforms to explore the nation's commitment to opportunity

Grantmaking

To date, the Dream Fund has invested approximately $8.7 million in grants made to 43 organizations nationwide. Dream Fund grantees are developing new communication tools and messages, creating a body of knowledge on the impact of anti-affirmative action initiatives, and creating new, innovative approaches to continuing diversity. As part of the initial design, the Dream Fund has transitioned into its capacity building and technical assistance phase. This means a primary emphasis is placed on providing technical assistance, capacity building and networking opportunities for existing grantee partners and donors.

Key donors

Over 40 donors have participated in the Dream Fund at the national, regional and local level. At the national level, key donors include: the Carnegie Corporation; Marguerite Casey Foundation; Falk Foundation; Ford Foundation; Charles Stewart Mott Foundation; and the Open Society Institute. In addition to national grantmaking, the Dream Fund also supports projects in nine states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

For more information about the Fund and its work, visit the Dream Fund website.