Reflections from a Tom Ford Fellow: Hannah Basali

Guest post by Hannah Basali, a 2024-2025 Tom Ford Fellow, B.A. in Political Science with a Minor in History, Iberian, and Latin American Cultures.

During her placement with the Ford Foundation’s Civic Engagement and Government team in New York, NY, Hannah explored the vital role of civic participation and inclusive governance — experiences that have shaped her perspective on building more just and representative communities.

The 2024-25 Ford fellows: Estefanía Acuña Lacarieri (left), Hannah Basali (center), and Emily Geigh Nichols (right).

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to you for providing the support to make my dream of a fellowship opportunity a reality. I greatly enjoyed my Ford Fellowship experience and am grateful for the foundational professional experience.

After studying political science at Stanford, I wanted to explore the sphere of civic engagement beyond the ever-narrowing scope of government. My background as a child of Egyptian immigrants having grown up in Cleveland, OH taught me that there are many pathways of service that exist beyond what we learn in the classroom, and I was excited to learn more about them. Upon learning of the Tom Ford Fellowship in Philanthropy, I became inspired to learn of the world of philanthropy and the powerful change that people can enact outside of the more traditional realms of direct public service. Through the fellowship, I was lucky enough to be placed with the Civic Engagement and Government US team at the Ford Foundation—a perfect fit!

In my role, I was matched with my mentor, Josh Wallack, to work on the reflective governance portfolio—working to reshape government to reflect the demographics, vision, values, and priorities of its constituencies. With Josh, I focused on the issues of extreme heat and childcare at the national level and in New York, the Gulf States, and the Midwest. My efforts included researching these areas and relevant nonprofits, meeting and maintaining relationships with grantees, coordinating funding with other foundations, and reporting on our triumphs and setbacks both internally and externally. I was lucky enough to organize and attend conferences across the country in Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas; Detroit; Houston; and Atlanta, as well as throughout New York City.

This fellowship was a valuable postgraduate experience that taught me the importance of building a network outside of my traditional age group and pre-law interest. I met people who led nonprofits, government agencies, and startups alike—all with the common goal of advancing civic engagement and strengthening our government. I built connections that I will continue to foster for years to come, and I thank you for providing me with the opportunity to be in these important rooms with such kind and influential people.

I will be transitioning from my fellowship year to my first year at Harvard Law School. My fellowship taught me the power of philanthropy and civic engagement beyond the government and the law, and I hope to bring this newfound perspective to my future efforts. I am immensely grateful for the experience. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,
Hannah Basali