Ploughshares Fund

Overview

Ploughshares Fund’s work is driven by a vision of a world where nuclear, chemical and biological weapons no longer threaten our families and our world, and where relations between nations are driven by respect for international law and cooperation rather than by fear of annihilation. Pooling donations from individuals, families and foundations, we support the smartest people with the best ideas for building a safer, more peaceful world.

Mission

Ploughshares Fund supports people who are working to prevent the spread and use of nuclear, biological, chemical and other weapons of war, and to prevent conflicts that could lead to the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Program

Ploughshares Fund supports outstanding initiatives designed to prevent the spread and use of nuclear weapons; contain nuclear materials; eliminate biological and chemical weapons; prevent the spread of missile technology and preserve outer space as a weapon-free sanctuary; and prevent armed conflict. Within these larger categories are programs to lock down and clean out vulnerable nuclear materials in order to prevent nuclear terrorism; to stop the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons by the U.S. and other countries; to promote direct engagement with countries of concern at the governmental and non-governmental levels; and to promote strong, effective international peacekeeping. In addition to making direct grants to organizations around the world, Ploughshares Fund is at the forefront of efforts to strengthen and revitalize the peace and security community so that we speak with a common voice on urgent issues and thereby help shape public policy on these issues.

Impact

In the 25 years since it was founded, Ploughshares Fund has become one of the leading sources of support and leadership on these issues, currently investing over $4 million per year in the peace and security community. It is our grantees, however, who make the impact – the scientists who are providing accurate assessments of the nuclear threats in Iran, North Korea and elsewhere; the coalition of groups that convinced Congress to eliminate funding for the nuclear bunker buster; the human rights advocates who achieved a landmine ban treaty in record time. The list goes on.

Countries of Operation

United States, Russian Federation, China, India, Pakistan, Canada, Japan, Korea, Republic of