To ‘walk in the light of creative altruism’

Martin Luther King

Honouring Chris Foster (Maths, 1997), lead benefactor at Mansfield

Tess McCormick Development Director

Mansfield College and Oxford University honoured the magnificent support of Chris Foster (Maths, 1997) in Michaelmas term 2024, welcoming Chris as a Fellow of the Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors (CCB) within the University of Oxford, and as a Bancroft Fellow of our College, for his cornerstone gift of £25 million to Mansfield last year.

The Bancroft Fellowship is named for the late Lord Bancroft, who was Chairman of Trustees at Mansfield before the College was awarded its Royal Charter as a full College within the University in 1995. It is the highest philanthropic honour Mansfield can bestow, and is conferred for life.

Oxford’s prestigious Court of Benefactors meets twice a year, at special events in Oxford and London, and offers benefactors the chance to engage with the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and other senior leaders within the collegiate University. These meetings also allow benefactors to meet other members of the Court and to gain a greater understanding of the life and work of the University and the colleges.

Fellows of the CCB can have their generosity honoured with an engraving on the Clarendon Arch, near the entrance of the Bodleian Library. Names inscribed on the arch comprise some of the University’s most prominent benefactors, including King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Thomas Bodley. The inscription ‘Christopher David Foster and Family’ joins others added within the last generation, including Guy and Julia Hands – also for their support of Mansfield – Dame Stephanie Shirley, Mr George Soros, HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Wolfson Foundation.

On 10 October, Chris and his wife, Kat, were welcomed by Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University, and Helen Mountfield KC, Principal of Mansfield, to view the new inscription on the Clarendon Arch.

Helen thanked Chris and Kat for their leadership philanthropy, and – on behalf of Mansfield’s Governing Body – set out how their names will not only be permanently inscribed in this historic place at Oxford, but also in the history of Mansfield College, where generations to come will recognise that they stood for equality of opportunity, and rewarding talent, just as we do.

Thank you, Chris, Kat and family, for your incredible philanthropy, which will have an impact on students and academics at Mansfield in perpetuity.