Ploughshares Fund is a public grantmaking foundation that supports initiatives to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons, and to prevent conflicts that could lead to their use.[1] Ploughshares Fund is a 501(c)(3) foundation that pools contributions from individuals, families and foundations.[2] Ploughshares Fund enables individual contributors to pool resources and provide support for initiatives[3] to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons. With over $100 million awarded in grants since its founding in 1981, Ploughshares Fund is the largest US philanthropic foundation focused exclusively on nuclear weapons.[4]

Ploughshares Fund
Formation1981; 43 years ago (1981)
FounderSally Lilienthal
Location
President
Emma Belcher
Chair
Terry Gamble Boyer
Websiteploughshares.org

History

Concerned about the world's burgeoning nuclear arsenals, San Francisco philanthropist and activist Sally Lilienthal founded the organization in 1981. Since it was founded, Ploughshares has made grants totaling nearly $100 million to hundreds of people and organizations around the world.[4][5] Lilienthal died in October 2006, at the age of 87, while still serving as Ploughshares Fund's president.[6]

In 2008, the Board of Directors appointed Joseph Cirincione as Ploughshares Fund's president, the same year that the organization opened an office in Washington, DC.[7][8] Cirincione stepped down as president in July 2020 and was succeeded by Dr. Emma Belcher, formerly of the MacArthur Foundation.[9]

Issue areas

Ploughshares Fund's grantmaking is focused on the following issues:

  • Promoting the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons
  • Preventing the emergence of new nuclear states
  • Building regional peace and security[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Learn more about our work". 15 June 2016.
  2. ^ "100% Donation Policy". 18 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Our Investment Strategy". 4 February 2016.
  4. ^ a b Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before It Is Too Late, Joseph Cirincione, Appendix F
  5. ^ Nuclear Shadowboxing: Cold War Redux, A. DeVolpi.
  6. ^ "Sally Lilienthal".
  7. ^ "Q&A: JOSEPH CIRINCIONE, President of PLOUGHSHARES FUND and Author – Terrence McNally". April 16, 2009.
  8. ^ Spring 2008 Newsletter, Ploughshares Fund
  9. ^ "Ploughshares Fund names Dr. Emma Belcher as next Foundation President". Ploughshares Fund. June 1, 2020.
  10. ^ What We Fund, Ploughshares Fund

External links