Building a future
beyond nuclear fear.
We are a hub where thought leaders, innovators, campaigners, and activists convene and take action to move us closer to a world free from nuclear threats.
Ploughshares is a relentless force committed to eliminating the threat of nuclear weapons. As the largest foundation singularly focused on reducing this danger, we grow and amplify the impact of the most effective advocates and organizations in the world through critical funding and trusted field building support.
Nuclear war affects everyone. We raise much-needed awareness to the perils of nuclear weapons development, testing, and use.
Women Transforming Global Security (WTGS) represents an unprecedented collaboration between The Elders, Ploughshares, and Horizon 2045—organizations united in their commitment to women’s leadership and breakthrough thinking at the intersection of global challenges.
WTGS unites the expertise of former heads of state, senior policymakers, and emerging leaders to advance feminist principles of collaborative problem-solving, long-term thinking, and collective intelligence in service of human and planetary security.
Latest from our Story Center
Nuclear Threat Is Still With Us. So Is Our Ability to Solve It — VIDEO
Some dangers announce themselves. Others are woven quietly into the background of our lives—and nuclear risk is one of them. Ploughshares exists to connect people across disciplines to address nuclear weapons risk, investing in ideas and leaders who don’t see nuclear threat as inevitable, but solvable. Learn more about how we do this in the…
The Brink of War: How a New Film Depicts Diplomacy on the Big Screen
There is something genuinely refreshing about a new Hollywood film that takes nuclear diplomacy seriously. The Brink of War, opening August 14, dramatizes the extraordinary October 1986 meeting between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavík, Iceland. The Reykjavík Summit lasted just two days, but the two leaders came remarkably close to…
Beyond Maximalism: Rethinking U.S. Strategy Toward Iran
The U.S.-Iran war has exposed the failure of a decades-long strategy built on coercion, maximalist demands, and the pursuit of decisive victory. A more sustainable approach must focus on managing rivalry, reducing nuclear and regional risks, and building a durable cold peace. Launched in February 2026, the U.S.-Iran war fundamentally altered the strategic landscape of…
NukeTalk Podcast
The most recent season of NukeTalk is the Nuclear Movie Club. Catch up on the season here.
9 countries in the world possess nuclear weapons.
Of the approximately 12,121 weapons that exist today, the United States and Russia have a combined total of 10,624, accounting for over 90 percent of the world’s nuclear arsenal.
