Darren Walker’s Decade of Disruption: Leaving Ford Foundation with a Message of Hope and Urgency
Darren Walker to Step Down from Ford Foundation, Reflects on Legacy in New Book
NEW YORK – After a transformative 12-year tenure at the helm of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, a prominent voice in American philanthropy, is preparing to step down. His departure is marked by the release of his new book, “The Idea of America,” set to publish in September. This collection of over eight dozen essays and speeches offers a poignant reflection on his remarkable journey from rural Texas poverty to leading one of the nation’s most influential non-profits, all while grappling with the intensifying inequality of what he terms our “new Gilded Age.”
A Candid Look at a Transformative Tenure
Walker, a Black, gay man who defied challenging circumstances to reach the pinnacle of the philanthropic world, candidly admits to his initial reservations about publishing this retrospective. “To be clear, not everything I said and wrote over the last 12 years is worthy of publication,” he recently told The Associated Press from his New York office, adorned with works from underrepresented artists like Malian portrait photographer Seydou Keïta.
His tenure, which began in 2013, has been a period of both “exhilarating and exhausting” challenges. A significant point of regret for Walker is his assessment that American democracy has weakened under his watch, with younger generations facing diminished prospects for the “mobility escalator” that propelled his own rise. He specifically cited the first six months of President Donald Trump’s administration as “disorienting” for a sector he successfully urged toward more ambitious and equitable funding practices.
“Radical Hope” in a Divided Nation
Despite this bleak outlook, Walker embraces a patriotic spirit and a profound sense of hope. “My own journey in America leaves me no option but to be hopeful because I have lived in a country that believed in me,” he explained. This “radical hope,” as he describes it in his book, is deeply rooted in the enduring patriotism and resilience of his enslaved Black ancestors, who for 400 years held fast to the belief that America would fulfill its promise of equality and justice.
Grading His Own Efforts: A “B or B-minus”
Reflecting on his mission to “work ourselves out of a job” – a statement from 2013 included in his book – Walker grades his efforts at a B or B-minus, acknowledging that the nation’s current state falls short of desired progress. He conceded that his early strategy to combat growing disaffection, particularly in rural America, underestimated the profound sense of being left behind, a sentiment exacerbated by issues like the opioid epidemic.
Legacy of Increased Grantmaking and Risk-Taking
One of Walker’s most impactful legacies at the Ford Foundation was his bold decision to leverage the foundation’s substantial endowment to significantly increase grantmaking, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been a vocal advocate for philanthropy to take greater risks and innovate, criticizing the common practice of treating the legally mandated 5% payout of endowment assets as a maximum limit rather than a minimum “floor” for giving. “During these times when there’s so much accumulated wealth sitting in our endowments, the public rightly is asking questions about just how much of that we are using and towards what end,” he asserted.
New Chapters: Obama Foundation and National Gallery of Art
As he prepares for his next chapter, Walker will join the board of directors for the Obama Foundation and assume the presidency of The National Gallery of Art. This move aligns with his deeply held belief in the power of art and humanities to foster empathy and collective identity – a theme he explores in a dedicated section of his new book. He was further recognized for his cultural contributions in 2022 when he was named commander of France’s Order of Arts and Letters, the country’s highest cultural honor.
Succession at Ford Foundation
His successor at the Ford Foundation, Heather Gerken, the dean of Yale Law School, brings a legal background and expertise in democracy, signaling the foundation’s continued commitment to strengthening democratic institutions. Walker describes Gerken as a “bridge builder” and a “courageous” leader, expressing his excitement for her leadership.
Looking Ahead: No New CEO Role, Just Meaningful Work
Looking forward, Walker has resolved to avoid a new CEO or presidential role, recognizing his Ford Foundation presidency as the most significant chapter of his career. Yet, he is determined to contribute further meaningful work, eager to embrace new challenges without the burden of nostalgia, always seeking to add more to his impactful legacy.