Barron M. Tenny - New Board Member

Barron M. Tenny was formerly executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Ford Foundation since 1996. He joined the Foundation in 1983 as special assistant to the President and was made Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel in 1984.

Prior to joining the Ford Foundation, Mr. Tenny spent nine years at the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, a community development corporation in Brooklyn, New York. He started as a staff attorney in 1974, was made deputy general counsel in 1975 and general counsel, vice president, and assistant secretary in 1977.

From 1970 to 1974 Mr. Tenny was an associate attorney with the New York law firm of Greenbaum, Wolff & Ernst, with a focus on nonprofit law.

Mr. Tenny graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1969. He received his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in history and science from Harvard College in 1966.

He is Vice Chair of the Foundation Center, a trustee of the International Fellowship Fund, and a member of the Council on Foundation’s Ethics and Practices Committee.

His interests and avocations include music, the piano, sports, and mathematics. His wife is a law professor, specializing in the death penalty. He has two children, one in education and one in law.

“The act of giving was part of the ‘gifting economy’ of the Northwest where one’s wealth was measured by generosity, good work and a good heart. That is the work of philanthropy too: It’s an honor to have plenty and to share. There is no lack when you have this process in place and the most important mindset to have while participating is gratitude, or giving thanks and promising to care for all, no matter what.”

Elizabeth Woody, Navajo/Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama

Board Secretary, Native Arts & Cultures Foundation

“These gifts demonstrate strong tribal interest in creating a powerful funding engine for protecting and preserving Native art and culture—the very cornerstones of tribal sovereignty. A foundation of this nature will help reverse the long history of government suppression of Native culture done as part of the United States' assimilation program. Through gifts of this nature, Indian Country can direct its resources to protect what is closest to home to all Indian tribes—our own cultures."

Walter Echo-Hawk, Pawnee

Of counsel, Crowe & Dunlevy, P.C.

Barron M. Tenny - New Board Member

2011/2012 Grantees

2010/2011 Grantees