Ploughshares Fund

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

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]

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