Marts & Lundy first welcomed John Ford to the firm in 2009 when he joined our Of Counsel ranks to provide assistance to the firm’s environmental and higher education clients. In 2011 John was elected chair of the Board of Directors and became a full-time member of the firm. His most recent position as the senior philanthropic advisor at ClimateWorks Foundation, and his extensive career in development in higher education position him well to provide sound advice and counsel to our clients and to the firm.

John began his development career in 1972 at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of Chicago before returning in 1977 to his alma mater, Stanford University, to head the major gifts program at the Stanford Medical Center. He served as director of medical development from 1980 to 1986 when he moved to the university's development office with responsibility for large gift activity during the initial phase of Stanford's $1.1 billion Centennial Campaign. John was named vice president for development in 1988, and Sr. Vice President for University Resources and Executive Vice Chair of The Stanford Challenge, a $4.3 billion campaign, in 2005.  John is a recipient of the Cuthbertson Award recognizing exceptional service to Stanford University.

At ClimateWorks (http://www.climateworks.org), a global network of organizations that support public policies that prevent dangerous climate change and promote global prosperity, John worked with the board and senior management of ClimateWorks and its network partners to raise more than $1.2 billion for the climate and energy fields.

John also serves as a member of the board of directors of World Wildlife Fund - USA

Perspectives