The Fordney Foundation is an educational and charitable nonprofit founded in May, 2002, with a three-fold mission: to discover and train talented individuals aiming for a professional career in dance or related fields, to develop understanding and enhance youth awareness and participation in dance sport in the community, and to award grant and prize monies to young, amateur dancers pursuing dance as a career or competing in dance.
The Fordney Foundation's grant program aims to assist children and young adults in their pursuit of ballroom dancing, both as an artistic expression and a competitive sport. It is focused on promoting ballroom dancing across all ethnic groups, religions, and creeds for amateurs aged 6 to 25 who qualify as dance students. The program includes providing financial support in the form of grants for individual dancers pursuing a career in dance and prize monies for those competing in dance competitions. It also supports the DanceStart Program, aiding families in supporting their children's competitive ballroom dancing endeavors. The foundation emphasizes the physical, social, and psychological benefits of dance sport, acknowledging the financial demands of participating in youth/junior dance competitions and aims to ease these by educating the public and supporting the dancers financially.