Ford, John B.
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- This is the first interview in a theme project to explore the role of development (fundraising) in Stanford’s journey “from good to great” and in sustaining greatness. In these two interview sessions, Ford begins by describing the post-WWII history of development at the university, broken down into eras corresponding to major fundraising campaigns: the PACE campaign 1961-1964 (Plan of Action for a Challenging Era); the Campaign for Stanford, 1972-1977; the Centennial Campaign, 1985-1991; the Campaign for Undergraduate Education, 2000-2005; and the Stanford Challenge, 2006-2011. He speaks about the different circumstances, priorities, strategies, and university presidents and provosts during each campaign, as well as challenges posed by adverse events such as student unrest and the indirect cost controversy. Ford believes that one key to Stanford’s development success has been its ability, starting back in the 1960s, to integrate financial planning, academic planning, and development planning. He also discusses the important roles of university trustees, alumni, donors and volunteers; obtaining major gifts from non-alumni; increasing the participation rate of alumni; non-monetary campaign goals; introducing a focus on class giving; the Commission on Undergraduate Education; and corporate and foundation fundraising. Moving on to questions of strategy, Ford discusses the importance of academic priorities; the influence of key individuals; components of the Campaign for Undergraduate Education; decentralization of the development function to the deans of the schools; large matching gifts; endowed graduate fellowships; and the Terman Fellows Program to support young faculty. Ford notes that Stanford led the way among peer institutions in many aspects of development, but learned from “the Ivys” in other aspects. Bringing alumni back to campus for university seminars and taking Stanford “on the road” were unique Stanford contributions. Ford also talks about fundraising based on intuition versus data; allocating development resources where they could do the most good; starting to focus on undergraduate students before they become alumni; Stanford Associates; the importance of stewardship; and unexpected gifts. Concerning administration and collaboration, Ford talks about the decision to add development officers in the schools “closer to the product;” managing access to donors; academic priorities as compared to donor interests; understanding the broader implications of a gift; endowment versus expendable funds; and communication with the donor community especially as the university grows and changes. Ford stresses the importance of a broad range development program, not just one focused on the handful of people who can give very large gifts. Looking to the future, he mentions many donors’ desires to see Stanford go beyond its traditional mission and speculates that fundraising will have a global focus in the future.
Description
| Type of resource | mixed material |
|---|---|
| Date created | April 16, 2014 - July 30, 2014 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Ford, John B. | |
|---|---|---|
| Contributing author | Bacchetti, Raymond F. | |
| Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
Subjects
| Subject | John B. Ford |
|---|---|
| Subject | Stanford Historical Society |
| Subject | oral histories |
| Subject | interviews |
| Subject | Peter Bing |
| Subject | Centennial Campaign |
| Subject | Campaign for Undergraduate Education |
| Subject | Plan of Action for a Challenging Era (PACE) |
Bibliographic information
| Related item |
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| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/bk799jn0687 |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
John B. Ford (2014). Oral
history. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at:
http://purl.stanford.edu/bk799jn0687
Collection
Stanford Historical Society Oral History Program interviews, 1999-2022
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