History

Ploughshares Fund was founded in 1981 by San Francisco philanthropist, artist and activist Sally Lilienthal (1919 - 2006). Under Sally’s guidance, Ploughshares Fund made grants whose impact far exceeded their size. 

An early grant enabled scientists at the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Soviet Academy of Scientists to prove that a nuclear test ban could be verified which removed one of the last hurdles standing in the way of a test ban treaty.  Ploughshares Fund was one of the original and most consistent funders of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which garnered a global treaty in record time and the Nobel Peace Prize for its advocates.

The organization expanded and grew its grantmaking capacity under the leadership of executive director Naila Bolus, who spearheaded a successful 25th anniversary endowment campaign. In 2008, recognizing the unique political opportunities that were unfolding to achieve Sally’s original vision of a world without nuclear weapons, the Board of Directors appointed Joseph Cirincione as Ploughshares Fund’s president and opened a legislative office in Washington, DC. In 2010, Ploughshares Fund led the successful campaign of over fifty non-governmental organizations to win the Senate approval of the New START treaty and developed a new model of impact philanthropy.

In 2011, longtime board member Philip Yun became executive director and chief operating officer.