Darren Walker, outgoing president of the Ford Foundation, is joining The Obama Foundation’s board of directors on November 1
ByGLENN GAMBOA AP business writer
Darren Walker’s post-Ford Foundation future is starting to take shape, as the outgoing president is now set to join The Obama Foundation’s board of directors.
The Obama Foundation, the Chicago-based nonprofit of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama focused on encouraging active involvement in democracy through initiatives like the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the Obama Youth Jobs Corps, announced Monday that Walker would join the board on Nov. 1.
“Darren Walker is an outstanding example of what it means to lead with purpose in philanthropy,” President Obama said in a statement. “Darren’s work to challenge long-held assumptions, stand up to injustice, and build unlikely partnerships aligns perfectly with the mission of the Obama Foundation. His experience and insight will sharpen our thinking and deepen our impact as we help the next generation of leaders change their world for the better.”
Walker, 65, who has led the Ford Foundation since 2013 and oversaw major investments in gender equity and disability rights, is one of philanthropy’s best-known leaders. He has been one of Rolling Stone’s “25 People Shaping the F