December 12, 2024 3:20 a.m.

The Ford Family Foundation has announced the promotion of Keavy Cook, who currently serves as its Director of Children, Youth and Families program, to the inaugural role of Vice President of Programs.

A TFFF release said Cook will direct the foundations grantmaking practice and process, support program strategy and ensure cross-program alignment. Cook, who is the longest serving program staffer with the largest grantmaking department, holds deep institutional knowledge and relentless love for the communities the foundation serves.

Foundation President and CEO Kara Carlisle said, “Anyone who knows Keavy knows that she is a person of great integrity and authenticity; she leads from the heart and brings exceptional intelligence to our work”. Carlisle said, “In promoting her to this new role, we have fundamentally strengthened our ability to advocate for rural children”.

Cook joined the foundation in 2008 as one its first program officers, was promoted to grants manager, and since 2014 has led the Children, Youth and Families team – advancing the foundation’s two-generation approach to parenting education, child abuse prevention, education, and more. Rural was her focus since she moved to Oregon, as she worked previously for the Resource Assistance for Rural Environment program at the University of Oregon, which builds capacity in rural communities.

Cook said, “It’s an honor to lead people who are so passionate about making change”. Cook said, “At our core, we’re a relational, rural, place-based funder. I’ve seen how our grants help catalyze change and can’t wait to build on the progress we’ve made – in deeper, more targeted ways”.

For more information about The Ford Family Foundation, go to: https://www.tfff.org/