Our History

Ploughshares was founded by Sally Lilienthal, Lew Butler, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Owen Chamberlain, and others in Lilienthal’s San Francisco living room

During the Cold War, Ploughshares initiated and funded programs that brought together Russian and American scientists to find joint solutions to nuclear weapons-related issues (such as treaty verification and accidental launch of nuclear-armed missiles) — Ploughshares also created a similar program in China (win!)

The Cowles Fund is established at Ploughshares by Mickey LeCron Foster as a separately endowed fund at Ploughshares focused on research and understanding of the root causes of conflict specifically in regions where nuclear weapons exist.

Following an emergency campaign funded by Ploughshares, the United States ratified the Chemical Weapons Treaty. (win!)

Landmines Ban Treaty entered into force with the support of Ploughshares funding for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and a host of other international organizations (win!)

Sally Lilienthal passed away

Seminal oped by the Four Horsemen published in the Wall Street Journal - former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry, former Senator Sam Nunn, former Secretary of State George Shultz and former National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. As four key architects of the Cold War, they now called for a fundamental shift in how nuclear weapons were understood as threats. (win!)

Ploughshares opens its Washington, DC office with Joseph Cirincione as President, leading policy-related efforts

Ploughshares hones its efforts to focus entirely on nuclear weapons

President Obama gave his “Prague Speech” calling for a world free of nuclear weapons, indicating a turning of the tide and possible favorable environment for global reductions (win)

New START treaty ratified following a targeted campaign led by Ploughshares and dozens of organizations, prompting the recognition of Ploughshares’ new “Impact Philanthropy” model

The landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is reached between Iran, US, UK, Germany, France, Russia and China effectively rolling back Iran’s nuclear program. Approval on the US side was made possible by a targeted campaign and coalition led by Ploughshares and nearly 100 other organizations and leaders. (win!)

Ploughshares launches the Women’s Initiative, later renamed Equity Rises

Under President Trump the US unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA, enacting a new policy of “maximum pressure,” withdrew from the INF Treaty, and did nothing to extend New START - leaving the US and Russia with zero limits on nuclear arms

Dr. Emma Belcher appointed as Ploughshares President

$1 million Equity Rises request for proposals initiative enacted

Following the path of several other institutional funders over the years, MacArthur - the largest funder of nuclear challenges at this time - closed their program

Ploughshares pivots its role in the nuclear threat reduction field to that of Field Builder with the goal of increasing the health and sustainability of the field and its members

Ploughshares rebrands with a fresh vision of hope and optimism and a renewed commitment to reducing nuclear weapons