The Tom Ford Fellowship in Philanthropy was created in 2001 to provide young professionals with intensive, mentored experiences in domestic foundations in order to educate Stanford graduates about the role of philanthropy in society and encourage them to enter the field. The fellowship is made possible by the generous support of Susan Ford Dorsey's Sand Hill Foundation and Philanthropic Ventures Foundation.
The Ford Fellowship celebrates the life of Tom Ford, whose contributions to Stanford stretch back to 1955. Over time, 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. 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.
Please note that Haas Center staff do not necessarily have direct experience with, nor do we professionally endorse, partner organizations.
Eligibility and Requirements:
Requirements:
Tom Ford Fellows commit to 11 months of full-time work with a U.S. foundation starting no later than October 1 following graduation. Placements occur during a deliberative spring quarter process after the fellowship is awarded; thus, Ford Fellows must be available prior to graduation to interview with prospective mentors and participate in an orientation session. The Tom Ford Fellowship cannot be combined with any other award or employment. Other program commitments include:
Spring Quarter
Enroll in POLISCI 236: Theories of Civil Society, Philanthropy, and the Nonprofit Sector (Sievers); and/or PUBLPOL 183: Philanthropy and Social Innovation (Arrillaga); PUBLPOL144: Amplifying Your Impact: Philanthropy by Design (Arrillaga); equivalent course or directed reading with Bruce Sievers
Participate actively in spring quarter placement identification process and placement interviews
Attend a program orientation, site visits and other preparatory workshops
During Fellowship Year
Complete a learning plan
Attend mid-year site visits/meetings for reflection and evaluation purposes
Submit a final report and program evaluation
Correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by Haas Center staff
Fellows are asked to assist the Tom Ford Fellowship in Philanthropy in future years by recruiting applicants and/or mentors and by participating in information and training sessions.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be current graduating seniors or coterms at Stanford. Applicants are encouraged from any major field of study and from a wide variety of service experiences; they need only exhibit a commitment to public service and an interest in philanthropy.