Background and Purpose

The Tom Ford Fellowship in Philanthropy was created in 2001 to encourage more young professionals to enter the field of philanthropy by providing three graduating seniors with intensive, 11-month experiences in grantmaking. Each fellow is matched with a senior figure at the host foundation who guides the student's professional development. Placements are made within community, private, corporate, and family foundations.

The Ford Fellowship celebrates the life of Tom Ford, whose contributions to Stanford stretch back to 1955. Over time, Tom Ford touched many corners of campus through his involvement as a Trustee of the Children’s Hospital at Stanford, a member of the Stanford Athletic Board, a ten-year Stanford University Trustee, and an invaluable leader of the Haas Center National Advisory Board. Tom Ford’s endeavors off-campus included his position as Managing Partner of the Ford Land Company and the development of 3000 Sand Hill Road, a well-known venture capital address in Silicon Valley. Modeled on the John Gardner Public Service Fellowship Program and offered in conjunction with Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF), the Tom Ford Fellowship is generously funded by Susan Ford Dorsey.