Gerald and Kelli Ford

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Golden State Bancorp

FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health, Texas Community

OVERVIEW: Gerald Ford and family conduct their philanthropy through the Gerald J. Ford Family Foundation, which according to available tax filings, gave away around $1.8 million in 2017. Ford has given millions to his alma mater Southern Methodist University. Texas is an important region of giving.

BACKGROUND: Gerald J. Ford (no relation to former president Gerald R. Ford, Jr.) graduated with a bachelor's and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University. He bought his first bank in 1975 and over the next 18 years, acquired 19 banks, ultimately forming First United Bank Group. In 2002, Ford and Ronald Perelman sold Golden State Bancorp to Citigroup for $6 billion in stock. Ford is currently chairman of Hilltop Holdings.

ISSUES:

EDUCATION & YOUTH: Ford is on the board of Southern Methodist University, which he has steadily supported. Ford once chaired the board. He and his wife Kelli committed $15 million earlier to construct the Gerald J. Ford Research and Innovation Building. In 2003, he established the Gerald J. Ford Research Fellows program. He provided the lead gift for a football stadium and supports student scholarships. Ford and family have also supported The Hockaday School, where Kelli sits on the board. The school is home to the Kelli and Gerald J. Ford Orchestra Hall. Other grantees include Jefferson Scholars Foundation, YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas, and Inner-City Scholarship Fund.

HEALTH: Ford and Kelli gave $10 million to Weill Cornell to create the Gerald J. Ford-Wayne Isom Research Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery. The Fords have been involved with Weill Cornell for many years, supporting the Center for Reproductive Medicine, establishing the Gerald J. Ford Family Professorship of Reproductive Medicine, and contributing to the Terry Allen Kramer Professorship of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Ford is longtime friends with Weill Cornell Chairman of Cardiothorastic Surgery O. Wayne Isom, who grew up in a neighboring Texas community.

TEXAS COMMUNITY: Grantees include Texas Health Resources Foundation and Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas. 

LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Ford family to continue to support these interests. It is unclear if their giving will expand in the coming years. Apart from the Dallas area, the family also has ties to New York City, The Hamptons, and New Mexico.

CONTACT:

The Gerald J. Ford Family Foundation
200 Crescent Ct, Ste 1350
Dallas, TX 75201