Darren Walker

Darren Walker (born August 28, 1959)[1] is a nonprofit executive who serves as president of the Ford Foundation.[2][3][4][5] Walker is a fellow of the Institute for Urban Design, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a board member of the Arcus Foundation, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Friends of the High Line, and the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies.[6]

For the Australian cricketer, see Darren Walker (cricketer).
Darren Walker
Born (1959-08-28) August 28, 1959
Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Texas, Austin (BA, BS, JD)
OccupationPresident of Ford Foundation
Partner(s)David Beitzel (Deceased 2019)

Earlier in his career, Walker worked as a lawyer and investment banker.[7] He has been a teacher of housing, law and urban development at the New York University School of Law and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.[8][9][10] He is co-chair of the New York Public Library Council.[11][12][13] He is board of directors vice-chairman at the New York City Ballet.[14] In 2018, Walker joined the board of directors of the Committee to Protect Journalists.[15]

Early life and education

Walker was born in a charity hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana.[16] Walker was raised by a single mother in Ames and later Baytown, Texas, and was one of the country's first children to benefit from the Head Start Program. Walker said that his background "has given me an understanding of the need for investment in human capital and the centrality of private philanthropy making a difference in human lives."[17]

With financial support from a Pell Grant, Walker was admitted into the University of Texas at Austin. In 1982, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in government and a Bachelor of Science in speech communication. In 1986, Walker graduated from the University of Texas School of Law with a Juris Doctor.[18][19]

Career
Walker at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2020

Walker began his career in 1986 at the international law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, after serving as a summer associate during law school in 1985.[20] In 1988, he joined Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) and spent seven years in its capital markets division.[21]

In 1995, Walker left the corporate world to spend a year volunteering at a school in Harlem.[22] He went on to become the chief operating officer at Abyssinian Development Corporation, a community development organization also located in Harlem.[23][24] There, he was able to draw on his private sector experience to advance revitalization in Harlem, including the opening of a Pathmark supermarket in 1999 at 125th Street and Lexington Avenue.[25] He also led the development of the first public school built in New York City by a community organization.[26]

From 2002-2010, Walker was vice president for foundation initiatives at the Rockefeller Foundation, where he oversaw a wide range of programs in the United States and internationally.[27] Also, at the Rockefeller Foundation, he led a recovery program in the southern United States in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.[28]

He joined the Ford Foundation in 2010 as vice president for Education, Creativity and Free Expression, one of the foundation's three major program areas.[29] He also oversaw Ford Foundation's regional programming in four offices based in Africa and the Middle East.[30][31] Walker was involved in securing funding for the American Folk Art Museum when the museum was experiencing financial difficulties.[32] Walker served on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's November 2013 Transition Advisory Team.[33][34]

Rockefeller Foundation

In July 2006, Walker was named the Rockefeller Foundation's vice president for United States and international initiatives.[35][36]

At the Rockefeller Foundation, Walker led the foundation’s work in the United States and globally - in supporting innovations that built economic development, sustainability and assets of poor and disadvantaged people - while creating long-term strategies that addressed increasing global migration, movements and urbanization. He also oversaw the foundation’s new strategy and vision for New York City, including directing the Rockefeller Foundation's support of the re-building of New Orleans.[37][38]

Earlier, from 2002, Walker served as the Rockefeller Foundation's working communities program director, where he oversaw a grant-making portfolio in excess of USD$25 million per year that created anti-poverty strategies focusing on education, employment, sustainable community development, and democracy building in the United States.[39]

Ford Foundation

Walker was named president of the Ford Foundation in June 2013. He officially stepped into the role of president in September 2013, succeeding Luis Ubiñas.[40][41]

Operation Detroit

Walker spearheaded efforts to save the Detroit Institute of Arts and city workers' pensions in the Detroit bankruptcy process.[42][43] Walker stated that it was "unprecedented and monumental for philanthropies to undertake this kind of initiative, but if there was ever a time when philanthropy should step up, this is it."[44]

Walker led nine foundations, many with ties to Michigan - including Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, William Davidson Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, Ford Foundation, Hudson-Webber Foundation, Kresge Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, McGregor Fund, and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. These US foundations "have pledged to pool the $330 million, which would essentially relieve the city-owned Detroit Institute of Arts museum of its responsibility to sell some of its collection to help Detroit pay its $18 billion in debts. In particular, the foundation money would help reduce a portion of the city’s obligations to retirees, whose pensions are at risk of being reduced in the bankruptcy proceedings. By some estimates, the city’s pensions are underfunded by $3.5 billion."[45] Walker's Ford Foundation pledged to provide $125 million for the $330 million common fund from the nine foundations.[46][47]

Commencement speeches

On May 23, 2015, Walker was commencement speaker for University of Texas at Austin.[48][49][50] On January 21, 2016, at Hunter College: City University of New York, Walker was 212th commencement speaker.[51] On May 18, 2016, Walker spoke at 184th commencement for New York University.[52][53] At Queens College: City University of New York, on June 2, 2016, Walker was 92nd commencement speaker; and, as well, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.[54][55][56] On May 22, 2017, Walker was 184th commencement speaker at Oberlin College[57][58] At Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville: New York, on May 18, 2018, Walker gave 90th undergraduate commencement speech.[59][60][61] On May 20, 2018, Walker gave 206th commencement address at Hamilton College Clinton: New York; and was awarded an honorary degree.[62][63][64] Also, on May 19, 2019, Walker was 218th commencement speaker at University of Vermont.[65][66][67][68] Walker received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Amherst College on Sunday May 26, 2019. [69][70][71]

Personal life

Walker is openly gay. His partner of 26 years, David Beitzel, died January 20, 2019, of a cardiac arrest due to an aortic dissection.[72][73][74]

References
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  3. "Building A GradNation Summit To Be Held April 27-29 In Washington, DC". Reuters. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  4. "Darren Walker, President, the Ford Foundation". Princeton University: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
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  7. Barron, James (July 24, 2013). "At Ford Foundation, Vice President Rises to Top Job". New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
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  9. "Ford Foundation Announces Darren Walker as New President". Philanthropy News Digest. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  10. "Schomburg Forum: Darren Walker & Khalil Muhammad Audio". The New York Public Library. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
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  67. "Students Earn Degrees from the University of Vermont". Reporter Today: East Providence. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  68. "Class of 2019 Turns the Tassels". UVM Today: University of Vermont. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
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