The Ford Foundation, a large United States philanthropy, supported the World Social Forum’s first three meetings in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Lisa Jordan of Ford Foundation -

"We have made two kinds of contributions to the World Social Forum since it began. First, we have supported the institution itself. Second, we have helped to globalise the forum, to extend its reach beyond Brazil and South America."

When asked if the The Ford Foundation would be supporting future forums Lisa Jordan replied "That will depend on two things: first, whether the organising committee asks us to; second, our evaluation of the forum as an innovation in global governance".