is ee
Durban Apology
Ford Foundation acknowledges errors in funding, takes action against Palestinian groups.
EDWIN BLACK
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Washington
n a stunning reversal, the Ford
Foundation has admitted it erred
in funding anti-Israeli Palestinian
groups and has vowed to establish
tough new guidelines to stop its funds
from being used for anti-Semitic activi-
ties anywhere in the world.
The group said it was "disgusted" by
anti-Israel and anti-Semitic agitation at
the 2001 U.N. Conference Against
Racism at Durban, South Africa, agita-
tion the foundation helped'finance.
"We now recognize that we did not
have a clear picture of the activities,
organizations and people involved," con-
ceded foundation president Susan
Berresford in a Nov. 17 letter to U.S.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. In addition
to establishing new funding guidelines,
the foundation's letter said the group will
cease financing anti-Israel groups and
even recover funds where the grant's
intent was violated.
The Ford Foundation's wide-ranging
announcement was detailed in a five-
page, single-spaced letter to Nadler.
Nadler had circulated a petition signed
by 20 members of Congress demanding
that the Ford Foundation halt its fund-
ing of anti-Israel hate groups. The
actions came after a JTA investigative
series documented how foundation
grantees fomented virulent anti-Israel
and anti-Semitic agitation and in some
cases advocaed armed revolution in
Israel.
The series prompted calls for an inves-
tigation from Nadler, Sen. Rick
Santorum, R-Pa., and Sen. Charles
Grassley, R-Iowa, the chairman of the
Senate Finance Committee. There were
also indications from the IRS, State
Department and Justice Department
that officials would review the Ford
Foundation's funding.
In her letter to Nadler, Berresford
wrote, "Recent media stories have raised
questions about the conduct of certain
Palestinian grantees who participated in
the 2001 U.N. World Conference
Against Racism in Durban, and the ade-
quacy of the foundation's oversight of
grantees. In response, foundation officers
and trustees have discussed these stories
with concerned individuals, making clear
I
11/21
2003
28
to make explicit our intolerance for
the numerous steps that the foundation
unacceptable activity by any grantee
takes to ensure the proper use of its
organization." She said the foundation's
funds."
standard grant-agreement letter, which
"Having reassessed our own informa-
grantees worldwide must sign to receive
tion on the Durban Conference," the
Ford Foundation funds, "will now
letter said, "and in continuing talks with
include explicit language requiring the
others, we now recognize that we did
not have a complete picture of the activi- organization to agree that it will not pro-
mote violence or terrorism. This
ties, organizations and people
prohibition applies to all of the
involved. Although some Ford
organization's funds, not just
Foundation-supported grantee
those provided through a grant
organizations repudiated the big-
from the Ford Foundation.
otry they witnessed in Durban,
"Organizations unwilling to
questions remain about others.
agree to these terms will not
"More troubling still is the fact
receive foundation support."
that many organizations among
The Berresford letter also
the large number at the conference
contained
a section titled,
did not respond at all."
Berresfo rd
"Prevention of Funding for
"We deeply regret that foun-
Bigotry and the Destruction of
dation grantees may have taken
any State," which declared that
part in unacceptable behavior in
organizations promoting the
Durban."
delegitimization or destruction
The Ford Foundation was
of Israel would be ineligible for
founded by Henry and Edsel
funding.
Ford, but no longer has any ties
"Grantees refusing to sign this
to the auto company.
agreement will not receive foun-
dation support," the letter said.
Nadler
No Pass-Throughs
"We will never support groups
that promote or condone bigotry or vio-
Nadler and representatives of Jewish
lence, or that challenge the very existence
groups who met with foundation offi-
of legitimate, sovereign states like Israel."
cials after publication of the JTA series
praised the foundation's response. Ford
Foundation officials could not be
Auditing Steps
reached for comment.
The letter announced a new auditing
But Berresford pledged to take sweep-
initiative
in which "Ford Foundation will
ing new preventive and monitoring
now reinforce its oversight with a new
measures to address grantees who were
and expanded worldwide program of
openly refusing to sign U.S. government
grantee audits. The foundation has
funding guidelines designed to ensure
engaged the international accounting
that charitable donations in the Middle
firm KPMG to create a risk matrix that
East don't end up in terrorist hands.
Ford Foundation will use to determine
In a section of Berresford's letter tided,
which grantees it will audit in the new
"Prevention of Funding for Terrorism,"
augmented oversight program."
the foundation said it regularly checks
The new system will go into effect
approximately 4,000 active grantees
against a State Department list to identi- within weeks.
Berresford's letter also said the founda-
fy any that might be on the State
tion is willing to commission a special
Department's proscribed list. "To date
organizational audit and, if "concerns
we -have found no matches," the letter
remain," will "recover funds if that is
said.
appropriate."
But, the letter continued, new meas-
The Berresford letter reversed the earli-
ures will help ensure that funds will not
er position of its vice president,
be passed through one organization to
Alexander Wilde. In statements and let-
another, or that Ford Foundation
ters to the editor, Wilde had insisted,
grantees use other independent monies
"We do not believe" that the events at
to promote violence or terrorism.
Durban "can be described as itation.'"
In addition, Berresford said, the foun-
In her letter, Berresford said, " ord
dation will require additional measures
"
Foundation trustees, officers and staff
were disgusted by the vicious anti-
Semitic activity seen at Durban, and we
were disappointed that it undermined
the vital issues on the meetings agenda."
"The foundation has reviewed its own
information to establish whether Ford
[Foundation] grantees took part in unac-
ceptable, ugly and provocative behavior.
To ensure that we receive a complete pic-
ture of grantees involved in the Durban
conference, foundation officers and out-
side advisers will seek out attendees
whom we, American Jewish leaders and
others concerned about anti-Semitism
and hate speech think should be heard
on these matters.
"If the foundation finds allegations of
bigotry and incitement of hatred by par-
ticular grantees to be true, in confor-
mance with normal foundation policy
we will cease funding." The letter
announced that the foundation "has
decided to cease funding LAW a grantee
that has been the subject of criticism."
LAW, the Palestinian Committee for
the Protection of Human Rights and the
Environment, was a special focus of the
JTA series. The group was a principal
player in the anti-Israel agitation in
Durban. An audit concluded it misap-
propriated millions in philanthropic
funds.
"LAW had over 30 donors in all,
including European and Scandinavian
governments, and an audit commis-
sioned by Ford [Foundation] and other
donors revealed that it had misused
funds," Berresford said.
She said the foundation also is dis-
turbed by the conduct of LAW's past
leadership at the Durban conference.
Although a newly constituted board and
executive leadership have made the
organization smaller and more focused,
she said, LAW has "not taken adequate
steps to demonstrate financial control to
warrant continued support."
Berresford added, "Ford [Foundation]
shares the concern of many about the
alarming rise of anti-Semitism around
the world and is committed to address-
ing this disturbing trend. Leaders of
American Jewish organizations and oth-
ers with whom we have consulted urged
the foundation to further explore ways
to respond, and Ford Foundation wel-
comes the opportunity to do so." ❑