The Geraldine C. and Emory M. Ford Foundation was founded in 1995 by Geraldine Ford and named in honor of her late husband, Emory M. Ford, a retired Wyandotte Chemical executive. The initial assets of the foundation were funded by the sale of a John Constable painting left to Mrs. Ford by her husband. The foundation, under Mrs. Ford's direction, was established to assist "artistic achievement in music by supporting works by American composers and assistance to American conductors and musicians in establishing professional careers through the Emerging Artist Program, New American Music Program, and the American Talent Program."
The foundation supported programs at the American Symphony Orchestra League, the New World Symphony, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the National Symphony Orchestra (United States) in Washington.
Mrs. Ford died February 28, 2004. Since her death, the foundation has ceased supporting musical endeavors in favor of general charitable support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and non-profit organizations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California.