FORD & ASSOCIATES has proudly served 155 independent schools and affiliated organizations. Our consulting work has taken us to 18 states and 10 countries.

"Becky and Rocky are pros! They are professional and most knowledgeable about independent schools. And they are so much fun to work with! Our campaign has gone the way they said it would. Who could ask for more?"

DEBBIE FREUND,
TRUSTEE
MANLIUS PEBBLE HILL SCHOOL
SYRACUSE, NY

"Rocky Ford & Becky Ross are a pleasure to work with. They have been both supportive and responsive over the past year that we have engaged them for our Development Office Assessment, Feasibility Study, and now as Campaign Counsel. Their collective experience and creative thinking have been invaluable."

TERRY LEE,
FORMER DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
CARBONDALE, CO

"I can highly recommend FORD & ASSOCIATES. Greenhill School worked with them on a Development Audit and Feasibility Study and weÍre just starting on campaign counsel. They have a wonderful rapport with donors. One study interviewee said he had sat through many interviews before and theirs was the best. They know the world of schools and were able to understand our situation quickly and make recommendations that went to the heart of the matter. They are organized, professional, insightful and fun!"

CHRISTIE BASKETT,
FORMER CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
THE PUTNEY SCHOOL
PUTNEY, VT

"FORD & ASSOCIATES expertise in managing campaigns for independent schools was one of the decisive factors in our selecting them as our fundraising counsel. Their expertise with schools has helped build the confidence of our volunteer leadership and empowered them to take a lead role in the campaign."

CAROL ANN PADDOCK,
FORMER DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
RIVER OAKS BAPTIST SCHOOLv
HOUSTON, TX

"St. Catherine's School chose FORD & ASSOCIATES for two reasons: the general strength, expertise and appropriateness of the firm, and the qualifications and "fit" of the staff to our school and needs. Rocky Ford, Becky Ross and the entire staff took the time to learn about our school, its history and its constituency before making a presentation to us for counsel. They are extremely easy to work with and we find their people skills and professional expertise to be very strong."

SUE SCHUTT,
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
ST. CATHERINE'S SCHOOL
RICHMOND, VA

"I have worked with FORD & ASSOCIATES at two different schools. They have helped to educate the board while working with the professional staff to evaluate the office and plan for a campaign. Truly professional!"

EVAN PETERSON,
HEADMASTER
FORT WORTH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
FORT WORTH, TX

"We are midway through our Campaign and thanks to FORD & ASSOCIATES we are right on track and can't say enough about the guidance we are receiving from Becky Ross and her associates. We feel we are getting outstanding support. Becky has been totally on target. All with whom she has been in contact sing her praises."

TOM DOAR,
HEAD OF SCHOOL
NORTH SHORE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
WINNETKA, IL

“Heartfelt thanks to FORD & ASSOCIATES for their tremendous support and guidance over the last three years. The campaign wouldn’t have raised the nearly $37 million we have to date without the wise counsel and constant encouragement of Ford & Associates. Liz’s technical skills were much appreciated. I always felt like Rocky and Becky and I were on the same page. Trust goes a long way in a working relationship. They have a wonderful way of guiding without ruffling any feathers. I really enjoyed their visits and feel I have made two good friends.”

SALLY HARRIS,
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
GREENWICH, CT

"We engaged FORD & ASSOCIATES for an Executive Search for a key position in our office after we pursued the traditional recruitment avenues without success. Rocky brought keen insight, straight-talking candor, good humor and, most importantly, the right kind of candidates for a Director of Major Gifts position. His wealth of independent school development experience and his sense of the marketplace were invaluable to us in our search for the best candidate for Viewpoint."

AMY MAENTZ,
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
VIEWPOINT SCHOOL
CALABASAS, CA

"FORD & ASSOCIATES helped us get our inaugural Annual Fund off the ground and it is now soaring! Their independent school knowledge and experience saved us time and energy and dramatically increased our results."

MARGARET MACCARY,
FORMER DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
KEW FOREST SCHOOL
FOREST HILLS, NY

"Rocky and Becky are always available for questions, respond immediately to our queries, and have provided sensitive and sensible counsel about the delicate issues connected with the campaign. Perhaps the ultimate recommendation for them is that the Board has hired them to counsel us through the most ambitious campaign that Collegiate has ever undertaken. Rocky and Becky have earned the trust and confidence of the Board, the Head of School and the Director of Development. I cannot imagine venturing into a major capital campaign without their advice and counsel."

BARBARA GROVES,
FORMER HEAD OF SCHOOL
LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
LOUISVILLE, KY

"The Strategic Planning process which Rocky and Becky guided us through helped us to build consensus, define goals and identify priorities. We now have a Strategic Plan with specific action steps and implementation dates and our Board is charged with enthusiasm. We've begun a Feasibility Study with Ford & Associates which we hope will lead to a Capital Campaign."

ANN MELLOW,
FORMER HEAD OF SCHOOL
ST. LUKE'S SCHOOL
NEW YORK, NY

"FORD & ASSOCIATES is the fourth campaign/fundraising firm I have dealt with in my 14 years of non-profit management and I can say they are the best. The structure, methodology and content of our feasibility study was far superior to that of any other firm's. Their campaign counsel and advice is delivered with confidence, humor and an abundance of knowledge from their independent school-only clients. We are well on our way to our largest and most successful campaign ever."

ERICH HUNKER,
ASSISTANT HEADMASTER
THE COLUMBUS ACADEMY
COLUMBUS, OH

"The feasibility study and office audit conducted by FORD & ASSOCIATES were professionally done, exhaustive, and extremely helpful in planning our future direction and setting the stage for our current success."

JEB BYERS,
HEADMASTER
CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL
CHRISTCHURCH, VA

"I have had the privilege of working with FORD & ASSOCIATES for the past two years and have benefitted tremendously from their wise counsel. In that time, we have completed a Feasibility Study and are well underway in the planning and execution of a Capital Campaign that is experiencing great momentum. What has impressed me the most, in addition to their in-depth understanding of independent schools and campaign planning, is their responsiveness to every need, their ability to skillfully handle delicate situations, and their total dedication to our ultimate success. I would gladly recommend them to anyone."

KIM WILLIAMSON,
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
NORTH CROSS SCHOOL
ROANOKE, VA

"I'm very pleased with your work, your demeanor, and your style. Professional, amicable, reassuring. It's always good to work with pros. You and Becky are an awesome team. "

LELAND H. COX, JR.,
PRESIDENT
CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
GREENVILLE, SC

"FORD & ASSOCIATES provided invaluable assistance in the search process for a new Head of School. They did a superb job of advertising, dispensing accurate and appropriate information about Gifft Hill School to the candidates, receiving and evaluating resumes, conducting interviews, and coordinating with all parties. Their skill and guidance was greatly appreciated. Our success in the future will have their masterful ‘fingerprints' all over it."

MILES STAIR,
BOARD CHAIR
GIFFT HILL SCHOOL
ST. JOHN, USVI