Investing in Communities

Ford has a long history of investing in the communities in which we operate by making charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations. Ford's commitment to supporting local communities remains unchanged, despite our business conditions. Indeed, even in difficult times, we believe it is important to continue these programs.

In 2007, we reorganized our corporate and employee volunteer charitable efforts under one umbrella: Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. We believe this combination allows us to have a greater impact on our communities. Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services oversees philanthropy, community relations committees and volunteerism efforts.

Ford Motor Company Fund is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1949. Made possible by Ford Motor Company profits, Ford Motor Company Fund makes contributions to qualified U.S. not-for-profit organizations that enhance and improve opportunities for those who live in the communities in which Ford operates. The Fund supports organizations in three strategic areas: education, auto-related safety and American heritage and legacy.

Outside of the Fund, Ford also makes direct corporate contributions to a variety of charitable organizations and causes. These corporate contributions are managed across the Company.

In 2007, Ford contributed a total of $37 million. Of that amount, $17 million was in the form of grants awarded by Ford Motor Company Fund; the remainder was corporate giving. This amount is less than we have given in previous years, which reflects challenging business conditions that affected the amount of money Ford was able to donate.

Community Relations Committees (CRCs), which are managed by Ford employees who live and work in our host communities, are a principal way we link to those communities. CRCs not only provide insight into the particular needs of each community, thus helping Ford to select grant recipients, but their members also often pitch in their own volunteer time to support those causes. At the end of 2007, the Company had 35 formal CRCs in the United States.

A 2007 Ford workshop used the discipline of Lean 6-Sigma Kaizen to analyze Ford Fund's community outreach practices. This is the same data-driven process used to evaluate our manufacturing and engineering programs. The workshop is helping Ford Fund develop a more effective way to work with communities and streamline the philanthropic process. Ford Fund was the first Ford organization to conduct a Lean 6-Sigma Kaizen workshop under our new Quality and Productivity Initiative.

Ford recently partnered with the GlobalGiving Foundation in a pilot program designed to respond directly to community needs expressed by Ford employees in Brazil. In 2007, all Ford Brazil employees were given the opportunity to nominate charitable organizations for support from Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. Ford Brazil organized selection committees composed of Ford employees and community leaders in Camaçari, Tatuí, São Bernardo do Campo and Taubaté. GlobalGiving facilitated the nomination process, helped evaluate the information supplied by prospective projects, and helped Ford award grants to the four organizations selected by the committees. GlobalGiving built an online giving portal for members of the Ford community to join Ford Motor Company Fund in supporting the chosen projects.

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services and the GlobalGiving Foundation are exploring how to expand this model to Ford communities around the globe. By listening to employees' ideas about improving their communities and providing a way for funding to reach those communities through the GlobalGiving Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services can expand its capacity to assist communities around the world.