The Ford Foundation is a globally-oriented philanthropic organization committed to advancing human welfare. It is one of the oldest private foundations in America which “has sought to reduce poverty and injustice, strengthen democratic values, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement.” Its mission focuses on confronting inequality in all its forms to ensure social justice, democratic values, and human rights.

The Problem: Siloes and Lack of Strategy Inhibited Collaboration

As part of a foundation-wide strategy to overhaul its internal culture, the Ford Foundation’s internal communications team assessed two significant internal communication challenges:

1. A siloed work environment resulted in departments being isolated, and the ten regional offices felt like distant satellites awaiting a command from the mothership.

2. Despite many new tools, they lacked an internal communication strategy designed to foster collaboration.

The Solution: Design and Launch a Digital Workplace / Intranet

In addition to renovating its iconic building in NYC, the Foundation set out to build a central information hub, a starting place for people to find information and get work done. Participation in this new “digital workplace” would be supported by new internal communications strategies. From the start, The Understanding Group was there to serve as their information architect, planning the new structure and then helping launch and grow Fordify--the name of the new Intranet. As shown below, TUG has continued to support the needs of the Foundation to maintain a vibrant online community that has become a valued and integral part of their work culture.