Hair, Chin, Cheek, Smile, Eyebrow, Head, Forehead, Lips, Skin, Happiness

_{^{A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT}}

To say that this year has been a period of major transition would be a huge understatement, but I’ll use it as our starting point. I know I sometimes sound like a broken record when I talk about the threats our world is facing but in fact it’s a song with a constantly repeating refrain.

This past year, the geopolitical landscape became increasingly fraught with tension. Russia’s aggressive posturing in Eastern Europe, particularly regarding its actions in Ukraine, continues to stoke fears of nuclear escalation. The Kremlin’s willingness to leverage its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent and threats to use nuclear weapons as part of their invasion have prompted neighbor nations (such as Finland and Sweden) and NATO to reevaluate their defense postures.

Simultaneously, Iran’s continued advancements in its nuclear program, coupled with its regional ambitions, have raised alarms in the Middle East and beyond. Israel’s aggressive efforts in Gaza and Lebanon have led to a back-and-forth, “tit-for-tat” series of targeted attacks between it and Iran, further complicating the security environment.

China’s military assertiveness in the South China Sea, coupled with its modernization of nuclear forces, introduces significant complexities to regional security dynamics. The United States’ strategic competition with China has not only influenced Beijing’s decision to expand its nuclear arsenal but has also heightened tensions throughout the Indo-Pacific region. This ongoing arms buildup reflects a broader response to perceived threats and posturing from the US, further complicating the security landscape.

North Korea remains a wild card, with its ongoing missile tests and threats of nuclear strikes. It is now even engaged in arms deals with Russia and may be sending troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. North Korea’s unpredictability has kept the world on edge, complicating diplomatic efforts aimed at denuclearization.

We’re pivoting to be able to respond to new challenges and new threats. We are playing a leading role in building a better, stronger and more responsive field that will be up to the challenge.

Ploughshares and our partners are taking up the narrative and persuasion battle to those who would see us dive deeper into the destructive patterns that marked the cold war era. As the world sees major transformation into a scarier, less stable, and more dangerous place, we’re transforming too - to meet that challenge head on. We’re becoming a stronger, more agile and more relevant organization. We’re committed to building a safer, more secure world. Your support has made it possible for us to do this indispensable work in the past and as we pivot in new directions and face down new challenges, our success will depend on you more than ever. This is a journey we can only find success in together. Thank you for taking it with us.

Dr. Emma Belcher

Ploughshares President

A Bold New Look for Ploughshares

This year, Ploughshares embarked on an exciting journey to reimagine our brand and better reflect who we are and what we stand for as an organization. This comprehensive rebranding effort introduced a renewed brand promise, aligning our mission with a visual identity that is cleaner, more modern, and deeply resonant with our values and goals.

A cornerstone of this transformation was the launch of our new website in November. Designed with user experience at its core, the site makes it easier than ever to access the information you need. One of its standout features is an interactive map highlighting nations with nuclear stockpiles, offering visitors an engaging way to explore this critical global issue. Additionally, the site connects users to the impactful work of our grantees in these regions, showcasing the breadth and depth of efforts to reduce nuclear risks.

Our rebrand represents more than just a new look—it’s a reaffirmation of our commitment to advancing a safer, more peaceful world. We’re thrilled to share this fresh chapter with you as we continue our vital work. Explore the new site here:

https://ploughshares.org/

Oppenheimer and Aligning Action

We were thrilled to be able to work across the field to collaborate on activities linked to the film, Oppenheimer. We launched Aligning Action in the lead up to the film’s release and since then, this group of collaborative professionals have worked together to share ideas and align activity within our field. As the film swept the Oscars it created another window to discuss the threat posed by nuclear weapons in the pop culture world, reaching a wider audience than we are usually able to. In the months since we have been building strategy about how to work with storytellers and showrunners in Hollywood and elsewhere to develop projects that further tell these stories in an accessible, broad way.

Policy Updates

Russian president Vladimir Putin recently announced a change in the Russian nuclear posture, stating that Russia will consider an attack by any country supported by a nuclear-armed nation to be a joint attack. Analysts view this shift as Russia aiming to deter Western involvement in Ukraine and divide European allies about continued support for Ukraine. The Kremlin also said in September 2024 that it will not consider signing an updated version of New START, which is set to expire in 2026, claiming the treaty “needs to be broadened and expanded to cover other states.” Our partners are developing and advancing policies that will encourage new arms control agreements between the two largest nuclear-armed states. Without such agreements, the lack of transparency and monitoring could lead to miscalculations and misunderstandings, and the number of deployed nuclear weapons on both sides may rise.

Russia

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin and

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Photo by Kremlin.ru

Since President Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, Iran has advanced to a threshold nuclear weapons state, meaning it has the capability to enrich enough uranium for at least one bomb in a matter of weeks — although it would take much longer for them to develop an actual nuclear weapon. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah in Palestine and Lebanon has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis in the region. The conflict has also led to direct tit-for-tat attacks between the Israeli and Iranian governments. Any conventional attack against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, carried out with or without US support, would likely cause only a temporary setback to its program. Such an attack would also risk the possibility that the Iranian government assesses that nuclear weapons, or retaining Iran’s threshold status, is necessary for its security. Our partners are sounding the alarm that there is no military solution to Iran’s proliferation risk—only a diplomatic one - and there must be an end to these cycles of escalation that only further the chances of catastrophic consequences on top of the already tragic humanitarian toll.

Iran

China decided to hold off on a new round of arms control talks with the United States in July 2024, citing US arms sales to Taiwan. China’s refusal to come to the table with the US deals a blow to the Biden administration’s attempt to compartmentalize nuclear arms control from other US-China matters. Some US lawmakers see this, as well as China’s ongoing nuclear expansion, as a reason to build up the US nuclear weapons arsenal. Our partners are working to push back against this narrative and prevent a new arms race.

In September 2024, China tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the Pacific Ocean for the first time since 1980. This test may be indicative of China’s desire to mirror the United States (which routinely conducts long-range missile tests over the ocean) and cement its status as a great power with a combat-ready force.

China

Spectators wave Chinese flags as military

vehicles carrying DF-41 ballistic missiles.

Photo by Mark Schiefelbein

Events

CHAIN REACTION

This year’s Chain Reaction gala, held on June 24 at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs in San Francisco, embraced the theme "A Bold Future." Speakers featured New York Times best-selling author Annie Jacobsen, acclaimed documentary director Lois Lipman, and nuclear expert and stand-up comedian Bill Hartung as emcee. The evening featured engaging, nuanced discussions, and concluded with a stunning rooftop view of the Bay Bridge.

June

SECURITY & THE FUTURE SYMPOSIUM

In early September, Horizon 2045 and Ploughshares co-hosted “Security & the Future,” a three-day symposium designed to promote long-term thinking about intersections between nuclear challenges and other global threats to human and planetary security. More than 100 colleagues from civil society, philanthropy, the private sector, and government attended the symposium, engaging in provocative cross-issue conversations.

At the center of the symposium was an all-day workshop involving Ploughshares’ Nuclear Futures Fellows, a cohort of 10 emerging and established leaders in the nuclear field. Through our investment in this fellowship, we are empowering the fellows to become leaders in the nuclear field and beyond. The symposium culminated in “A Night in the Future,” the closing reception where the Nuclear Futures Fellows announced their plans for their capstone projects which they will pursue over the next 9 months with our support.

September

ANNUAL POLICY BRIEFINGS

This year’s Annual Policy Briefings took place November 13–14 in Washington, DC, beginning with a Capitol Hill briefing hosted by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and featuring nine members of Congress who emphasized bipartisan collaboration ahead of the next administration and an eagerness to work with Ploughshares. A dinner followed for Ploughshares board members, donors, and staff, with a discussion between President Dr. Emma Belcher and board member and former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes. The events concluded at the National Press Club with "Nuclear Foresight From the Beltway," featuring two panels: the first with representatives from DOD, DOS, NNSA, and NSC, and the second highlighting insights from Ploughshares’ grantees. The program also included a conversation between Sherri Goodman, author of Threat Multiplier, and Board Chair Gretchen Hund.

November

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White-collar worker, Furniture, Sitting, Blond, Coat, Chair

NukeTalk podcast, (formerly known as Press the Button), is back in action with our most anticipated season yet: “The Nuclear Ballot: How the US Election Shapes Nuclear Policy.” We kicked things off with none other than Kathleen Kingsbury and W.J. Hennigan from The New York Times, the brilliant minds behind the game-changing “At the Brink” series. Their work brought the issue of nuclear weapons front and center for millions, capturing attention with stunning visuals and showcasing the vital efforts of several Ploughshares grantees.

In our very first episode, we dove deep into the all-important question of who holds the ultimate power in nuclear command and control—the US President. The guests made complex topics crystal clear, walking us through everything from the president’s sole authority to launch a nuclear weapon to how different administrations shape nuclear policy through the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR). And yes, that was just the beginning!

This season, we’re taking you on a journey through the maze of nuclear policy and the US election. From the heated campaign trail to what happens after votes are cast, we’ll be unpacking the stakes—like the possible return of nuclear testing, the future of modernization efforts, and how US relationships with Russia, China, and NATO hang in the balance. Our goal? To give you the inside scoop on how nuclear policy could shift depending on who’s in charge, and what that means for both national and global security.

We’d love for you to join the conversation! Whether you're a longtime listener or new to NukeTalk, you can catch the latest episodes on our website or wherever you get your podcasts. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and X for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more. Oh, and if you like what you hear, why not share the podcast with a friend or leave us a review? Your support keeps us going, and we’re excited to have you with us for this season’s wild ride!

Subscribe to our podcast

In its first year, our Field Building Department has made significant strides in advancing nuclear policy collaboration and innovation. Establishing a key partnership with Horizon 2045, the department is exploring pathways toward peaceful futures. It supported the launch of the Stop the New Nuclear Arms Race Roundtable, a vital platform for discussing strategies to counteract nuclear escalation. Additionally, the department introduced the Nuclear Futures Fellowship, empowering emerging experts with research opportunities in nuclear policy. The year also marked the inaugural symposium, convening thought leaders and activists. Hosting the esteemed Hale Fellow further demonstrated our commitment to fostering new voices in the field. To guide ongoing work, the department formed a Field Building Advisory Committee to provide strategic direction.

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Get to know the first cohort of the Nuclear Futures Fellows:

Field Building launched at Ploughshares

Grantee Spotlights

Vienna Center for Disarmament and Nonproliferation at Middlebury Institute of International Studies

When the war broke out in Ukraine in 2022, Ploughshares immediately sought ways to support Ukrainian nuclear experts impacted by the Russian invasion. We knew their unique expertise and understanding of regional dynamics and nuclear threats would be critical in the days – and years – to follow. With our help The Vienna Center set up an emergency fellowship program which has supported five to six paid fellowships each year. Fellows are housed at leading universities, NGOs, and think tanks across Europe, and have produced timely research, with several contributing to Russia’s War on Ukraine: The Implications for the Global Nuclear Order, which was co-edited by fellow Polina Sinovets.

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The 2024 Paul Olum Grant

This year’s Paul Olum Grant to support scientific research on reducing the threat of nuclear weapons will help fund Tong Zhao’s research about a potential Chinese shift to a launch-under-attack posture. Zhao, a distinguished senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is engaged in critical research examining the implications of a potential Chinese shift to a launch-under-attack (LUA) posture. This work explores the strategic and security dynamics of China’s nuclear policy and aims to foster dialogue and understanding among international stakeholders.

Emerging Voices Network (EVN) at the British American Security Information Council

EVN is a global network of more than 350 high-potential, early career researchers on nuclear issues. Established in 2020, EVN aims to expand the skills of a new generation of nuclear experts to support innovative ideas and fresh perspectives. Ploughshares’ first grant to EVN was part of our 2022 $1 million Equity Rises Request for Proposals, through which they explored the interconnections between nuclear weapons and other issues. More recently, EVN and Horizon 2045 conducted a special futures and foresight training for EVN members challenging them to map out potential pathways to future scenarios that are not reliant on nuclear deterrence. EVN will soon issue a report with policy recommendations and related pathways to a nuclear weapons-free world. The report will be distributed to high-level officials and senior experts at key global events such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

FCNL is one of the leading advocacy organizations for reducing nuclear arsenals and advancing more peaceful foreign policies. With strong links to religious communities, they have built a network of thousands of activists across the country including nearly 100 advocacy teams in 39 states. They have spent years building close relationships with legislators from both sides of the aisle. Last year with our support they mobilized:

22,731 emails, letters, or calls to congressional offices

4,700 constituents who urged their legislators to support nuclear diplomacy and better nuclear policy

4,000 letters to Congress urging them to include RECA expansion in the NDAA

100 Senate and 422 House constituent contact

22 lobby visits on nuclear weapons issues

Atomic Terrain / Bombshelltoe

As part of our strategy to build new partnerships with intersecting issues, we supported the Atomic Terrain project through Bombshelltoe to build a unique collaboration between nuclear and environmental scholarship and creativity. Atomic Terrain aims to share less - visible nuclear histories and develop new policy frameworks that benefit both nuclear security and environmental justice. Our grant supported roundtable dialogues among nuclear experts and eco-scholars studying the impact of nuclear war on the environment; art-and-gardening public programs across the country with horticulturists, environmental activists, artists, and nuclear policy experts; and the installation of Atomic Terrain at the 2024 New York Art Book Fair – a leading international event that attracts 30,000 and 40,000 people who are not typically engaged with nuclear issues for a 4-day exhibit and expert panel event that helped bridge the gap between nuclear weapons issues, environmentalism, the art world, and the general public.

Gifts of $1,000-4,999

Jeanette E. Akhter

Mr. and Ms. Peter Ascoli

Scott Baker

Tannaz Banisadre

John and Molly Beard

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Beard

Francis Beidler III

Dr. Emma Belcher

Douglas J. Bender

William and Rita Bender

Kenneth and Helen Blohm

Ron Boring

Kathryn Bosler

Skyler Brown

Lisa Buchberg

Mr. and Mrs. David D. Buck

Gerald K. Cahill & Kathleen S. King

Dorothy D. Ciarlo

Carol Clemency

Colorado Episcopal Foundation

Amy Coulter

Patsy Cravens

Constance Crawford

Shannon Sedgwick Davis

David Dayton

Jacquelyn Dear

Rebecca W. Dell

Catherine Douglass

Michelle Dover and Andrew Kurzrok

Anne R. Dow Family Foundation

Samara Dun

Nathan M. Dunfield

East Bay Community Foundation

George and Kathy Edwards

Dr. Paul Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich

Mathea Falco and Peter Tarnoff*

Peter Felsenthal and Jennifer Litchfield

Mr. Don Ferber

Ellen Fisk

Barbara Forster and Larry Hendrickson

Veronique Fourment and Bob Buehl

Morris Friedell

Eleanor Friedman and Jonathan Cohen

Give Lively Foundation

Laurel Gonsalves

Ellen Grobman

Mary Margaret Gross

Pamela and Kris Hamrick

Rachel Hassas

Heins-Mills Family Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation

Ms. Katherine Heller and Mr. Rolf Lygren

Martin and Dorothie Hellman Family Fund

Carolyn and Chip Herman

Michael and Jimena Hirschhorn

Alan and Judy Hoffman

David and Arlene Holloway

Joseph Holmes

Kevin and Jessica Holmes

Perry and Rena Horowitz

The Richard R. Howe Foundation

John Hoyt

Hughes Family Fund of The Marin Community Foundation

Jack Jensen and Cathleen O’Brien

Michael D. Jones

M. Albin Jubitz, Jr.

Stuart Kaplan

Ethan and Connie Kelly

Sue Klem

J. Morgan Kousser

Martha Krebs

Ann L. Krumboltz

Margaret Lawrence

Marta Jo Lawrence

The Leavens Foundation

Doug Lee

The Leo Model Foundation

Sukey Lilienthal and David Roe

Mr. and Mrs. Michael MacLaury

Lisille and Henry Matheson

Craig McFarland

Neva McIlvaine

McKinnon Giving Fund at Fidelity Charitable

Stephanie McKown and John D. Brennan

Donald Mead

Harrison Miller and Clare McCamy

Hal Nathan, in memory of Gail Seneca

The Oppenheimer Project

Victor and Jeanne Orphan

Mary and Benjamin Page

Jeff Petrucelly

Plato Malozemoff Foundation

William Preston

Richard Pritzlaff

Susan L. Quinn

Carolyn Revelle

Ben Rhodes

Marian F. and Horace Y. Rogers Foundation

Ms. Janna Rolland

Rodney and Josie Rothstein

James C. Sanford

Sara Sandford

Betty and Jack Schafer

Val Schaffner

Margo Sensenbrenner

Roberta R. and Howard A. Siegel

Silver Tie Fund

Gerald Smith

Mason and Jeannie Smith

Mr. James C. Smith

Susan Sommer and Stephen A. Warnke

Nancy Stephens and Rick Rosenthal

Frances W. Stevenson

Gordon and Elizabeth Stevenson

William and Lee Strang Fund of the Schwab Charitable Fund

Joel Ticknor

David Trowbridge

Utah Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

Michael S. Venturino and Michelle Carter

Mark Vossler

Leslie Walker

Maggie Walker

Michael Wear

Janice R. Welsch

Wild Thyme Fund

Mr. Richard D. Woods

David and Joanne Woodyard

Mitchell and Jane Zimmerman

Anonymous (9)

*deceased

Arms Control Association

Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament

Bombshelltoe

British American Security Information Council

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue

Conciliation Resources

Downwind Film LLC

European Council on Foreign Relations

FCNL Education Fund

Federation of American Scientists

Foreign Policy for America

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Global Zero

Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship

Inkstick Media

International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

International Civil Society Action Network

International Crisis Group

J Street

Marshallese Educational Initiative

MoveOn.org Civic Action

National Committee on North Korea

National Iranian American Council

NIAC Action

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Nuclear Threat Initiative

Nuclear Truth Project

Nuclear Watch New Mexico

Physicians for Social Responsibility

President and Fellows of Middlebury College

Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

ReThink Media

Secure Families Foundation

Stichting Vredesbeweging Pax Nederland

The Henry L. Stimson Center

The Open Mind Legacy Project

Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment

Trustees of Princeton University

Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology

Union of Concerned Scientists

Vet Voice Foundation

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

Whitman College Board of Trustees

Win Without War Education Fund

Women Cross DMZ

Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation

OUR 2024 GRANTEES

OUR DONORS

The grants Ploughshares Fund provides are made possible thanks to the generous support of our donors. Our dedicated supporters are the lifeblood of our work, and without them we wouldn’t be able to invest in this critical work. To join—or recommit to—the fight to build a world free of nuclear weapons and help us continue our mission to reduce and ultimately eliminate nuclear weapons, please consider making a gift today.

Donate Today!

Give Today

Gifts of $100,000+

Edith W. Allen

Peter Boyer and Terry Gamble Boyer

Colombe Peace Foundation

Melodee Siegel Kornacker

Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Skoll Foundation

The Philanthropy Workshop

Anonymous (2)

Gifts of $25,000-99,999

Nadim and Maggie AbuHaidar

Cynda Collins Arsenault

Cogan Family Foundation

Davis/Dauray Family Foundation

Firedoll Foundation

Leland T. Lynch and Terry Saario Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation

New-Land Foundation

Purple Lady Fund, Barbara J. Meislin

Vivian and Paul Olum Foundation

SophiaGrace Foundation

Steven and Roberta Denning

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The Waldron Charitable Fund at the Boston Foundation

Anonymous (3)

Gifts of $10,000-24,999

Philip and Sabrina Ames

The Birenbaum Family Fund

James B. Blume and Kathryn W. Frank

Maya Bose

Eliza Brown

Mr. and Mrs. William Gardner Brown

Susan Okie Bush

Thomas Callaghan and Kay Takano

Frederick R. Colby

Mark Davidow Philanthropic Fund

William Donnelly

Michael K. Douglas

Roxanne Elder

Mary Lloyd Estrin* and Bob Estrin

John F. and Mary K. Feikema Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation

Connie Foote Family Fund of the Saint Paul Foundation

Fund for Nonviolence

Sheryl P. Gardner, MD

Goldman Sachs

Grossman Family Foundation

Gretchen Hund and Ted Andrews

Gina and Rich Kelley

Lee and Luis Lainer Family Foundation

Victoria Lilienthal

Henry D. Lord

Barbara Manger and Bill Lynch

Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman

Chris D. Miller

Katherine and Bridger Mitchell

Don Mordecai and Corinna Haberland

Dr. Victoria T. Murphy

Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation

Will and Julie Parish

Ann and Michael Parker

Robert and Marcia* Popper

William and Eleanor Revelle

Sydney and Stanley S. Shuman/Marc Haas Foundation

Streisand Foundation

The Odd Fund

Three Friends Charitable Fund

Jill Troy Werner, Werner Family Foundation

Dr. John Newhall Wilson*

Margaret Winslow

Anonymous

*deceased

COUNCIL AMBASSADORS

Gifts of $5,000-9,999

Kennette Benedict

Jerry M. Bernhard

Nancy Bernstein and Robert Schoen

Louise and Marty Bickman

Amy and Joshua Boger

John Bowers and Linda Stevens

Graham and Talia Brandt

Drs. Arthur and Linda Brown

David G. Bunting

Laurie Cohen Fund of the San Francisco Foundation

Steven Cohen

Katherine R. Colby

John and Kelly Couch

Sallie De Golia and Martin Bronk

Jane Dudley

Barry Evans and Louisa Rogers

Angela and Jeremy Foster

Zoe and Aneal Gadgil

Stuart L. Gasner and Kate Ditzler

Mike Gull and Kate Bergeron

Christopher Jones and Martina Lauchengco

Jubitz Family Foundation

Elizabeth and Scott Lassar

Thomas C. Layton and Gyöngy Laky

Amy McGrath

Doug Michelman

Janet Fitch Parker

Lisa Peters

Annette J. Roberts and Joan R. Robertson Fund for World Peace, World Law and Peace Education

Scott Sagan and Sujitpan Bao Lamsam

Professor Alvin and Harriet Saperstein

John M. and Catherine Manz Smith

Dr. and Mrs. C. Porter Storey

Roselyne C. Swig

Turner Family Fund

Anonymous (4)

*deceased

COUNCIL ENVOYS

COUNCIL DIPLOMATS

Catharine and John Kalin

Ethan Kelly

Peter Kohnke

Ann L. Krumboltz

Jane Langley

Thomas C. Layton and Gyongy Laky

Jeffrey R. Leifer

Martha Lussenhop

Joan MacDonald

Mactaggart Third Fund

David and Sandra Matteson

Purple Lady Fund, Barbara J. Meislin

Carole L. Mendelsohn

Lynda Palevsky

Janet Fitch Parker

Abraham and Camille Pollack

Robert and Marcia Popper

Jean S. Prokopow

Annette J. Roberts and Joan R. Robertson Fund for World Peace, World Law and Peace Education

Jerald Ross

Robert A. Rubinstein and Sandra Lane

Sayre P. Sheldon

James G. Sherwood Trust

Mary B. Strauss

Patricia Sullivan

Martha O. Vinick

Brooks Walker III

Philip Yun and Melissa Millsaps

Peggy and Lee Zeigler

Anonymous (10)

*deceased

Edie Allen

Miles and Erica* Anderson

Barbara and Bob Bachner

David Bezanson

James B. Blume

Dr. Richard Bradus

Mimi and Dick Brukenfeld

Lew and Sheana* Butler

Joseph Cirincione

Patsy Cravens

Reid W. and Peggy Dennis

Joan and Peter Eilbott

Mary Lloyd Estrin* and Bob Estrin

Lynn Fahselt and Peter Ferenbach

Veronica Fields

Marianne and Edward Fisher

Connie Foote

Angela and Jeremy Foster

Jean Fraser and Geoffrey R. Gor don-Creed

Terry Gamble and Peter Boyer

Barbara S. Green

Marilyn L. Thomas

Roger Hale and Nor Hall

Mary Elizabeth Handy

Frances K. Harris

Barbara Hatch Rosenberg

David and Arlene Holloway

Jacques F. Jacobson

Wayne Jaquith

Bud* and Fran Johns

COUNCIL AMBASSADORS

Board member spotlight on

Michael Wear

How long have you served on the board?

I have served on the board for almost two years.

What led to your serving/what brought you to Ploughshares?

I have long been interested in nuclear non-proliferation, and spent time in college studying and writing about President Kennedy and the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. When I served in The White House, I was proud to work with Ploughshares and a number of our partners on the New Start Treaty. I continue to be interested in nuclear weapons as a matter of public policy, human rights, and also the spiritual and moral implications of our acceptance of nuclear weapons as a viable military and "diplomatic" tool.

What do you like best about serving on the board?

We have a wonderfully diverse and committed board, and it's an honor to serve with my fellow board members. I also think we have exceptional staff, and it's a joy to learn from and interact with them. Finally, we have a vital, meaningful mission which is worth pursuing.

As you look at your board roles (like the communications committee) – what led you to take on those specific roles?

I am glad to serve on the communications committee because we know that so much of our mission relies on what the public perceives to be necessary, and what we can imagine to be possible. In just my short time on the board, Ploughshares has taken critical steps to enhance our brand, our communications infrastructure, and our usefulness to the broader community of partners. I hope that my experience in political and public communications has allowed me to make a meaningful contribution to the work of this committee, which my friend and fellow board member, Ethan Kelly, so ably leads.

Are there any memories or moments during your time as a board member that particularly stand out?

Aside from my passion for our mission, one of my favorite memories with Ploughshares precedes my time on the board (though I think I was being "vetted" as a potential board member at the time!). I was at a Ploughshares event in D.C., and heard Emma Claire Foley present on a report she co-authored with Ploughshares' support. I was impressed by Emma Claire, who has only grown in prominence since that event and continues to be a partner with Ploughshares, but I was also impressed that Ploughshares had identified what an incredible talent Emma Claire had and had the humility and vision organizationally to provide opportunities for her to grow in her leadership in the field. That commitment to mission, combined with robust strategy, a commitment to identifying and providing real support to the next generation of responsible policymakers and shapers, left a huge impression on me that led me to want to get even closer to Ploughshares.

What do you think a prospective board member should know before joining?

The issues we are confronting are sobering, but the antidote to hopelessness is to join the mission, to get closer to the work, to know our partners, staff, and donors who are committed to our mission to reduce and eventually eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons. As a board member, you will have a privileged view into the great work that Ploughshares is doing and that Ploughshares makes possible with the support of our partners.

What surprised you (if anything) about your experience serving as a PF board member?

I was surprised by the vibrancy of relationships that have formed over decades of work, and I find so many of the leaders and contributors in Ploughshares' orbit--our partners, grantees, and friends--to be inspiring.

Michael Wear

President & CEO

Center for Christianity and Public Life

Fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024)

At a time when nuclear threats are rising, demands on the nuclear policy field are increasing, and philanthropic dollars are decreasing, Ploughshares stands out in our willingness to distribute funds from our capital reserves beyond the average 5% of most foundations. While we wish our annual fundraising could meet our yearly needs, we are deeply grateful for the many people before us who have provided for Ploughshares in their estate plans or with gifts to our endowment. This year, we took a larger than typical draw from our reserves to cover necessary expenses related to grantmaking and programmatic activities, which allowed us to play a unique and critical role that the field needs.

In fiscal year 2024, Ploughshares’ long-term investments had a gain of $2,380,409 compared to a prior fiscal year gain of $3,009,716. Of the fiscal year 2024 total assets, $24,271,459 is held in our long-term capital pool, which was established to ensure our ability to continue our mission to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons, weather external shocks, and respond to urgent needs and opportunities. This portfolio is actively managed by an investment firm in coordination with our investment committee.

Financial Report¹

Support and Revenue

	2024	2023
Contributions	2,425,456	8,824,707
Investment Return (Loss)	2,380,409	3,009,716
Other Income	138,296	2,348
TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE	4,944,161	11,836,771

Assets, Liabilities and Net Assets

	2024	2023
Total Assets3	27,342,062	31,994,351
Total Liabilities	3,332,101	3,359,872
Net Assets
Without donor restrictions	2,224,456	2,488,183
With donor restrictions	21,785,505	26,146,296
TOTAL NET ASSETS	24,009,961	28,634,479

Expenses

Program Services	2024	2023
Grants from Ploughshares	4,076,302	4,524,475
Grants from Cowles Fund	310,000	290,000
Programmatic Activity2	3,213,555	2,397,448
Supporting Services
General Administration	743,023	634,539
Development	1,225,799	1,005,479
TOTAL EXPENSES	9,568,679	8,851,941

1. Complete audited financial statements are available upon request. The above numbers have been audited.

2. Programmatic activity includes new work we are conducting to build the nuclear policy field for the future.

3. These assets include investments in Ploughshares’ Pooled Income Fund.

Ploughshares' Board of Directors comprises distinguished leaders from the fields of government, science, public policy, education, and philanthropy.

Board Members