Tom Ford Fellowship in Philanthropy
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.
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.
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.
Application requirements:
Through SOLO, applicants should submit an application (including uploaded PDFs of their resume and unofficial transcript). Applicants must also solicit two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a faculty member who is familiar with their college level work, the second should be a professional reference.
Evaluation criteria:
Applicants are selected based on the following criteria:
- significant public service experience;
- readiness for fellowship experience;
- understanding of the role of philanthropy in society
- understanding and embodiment of Principles of Ethical and Effective Public Service;
- record of academic accomplishment;
- quality and content of written statements
The selection committee reviews applications and develops a list of finalists to be interviewed. Awardees must commit by Friday, March 3, 2023. Fellowships should begin by September 5, 2023; placements must be located within the continental United States.
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.
