The Office of Development and Alumni Relations was created in 1979 under a general university reorganization. Robert J. Haley served as Vice President of this office until June 1994, when he retired and was succeeded by Robert R. Lindgren. This office replaced the previous fundraising body, The Johns Hopkins Fund. For a history of early fundraising activities at Johns Hopkins University, refer to Record Group 11.002: Development pre-1950, and Record Group 11.005: Johns Hopkins Fund.

Since 1979 the Office of Development and Alumni Relations has engaged in two major fundraising campaigns. In September 1984 the Campaign for Johns Hopkins was initiated, raising a record amount of $644 million by 1990, far exceeding its original goal of $450 million. On October 1, 1994, the Johns Hopkins Initiative was launched to raise $900 millon in private funds by the year 2000. Its primary goal is to increase the university's endowment, and to finance construction and renovation projects in the teaching, student, research and patient care facilities. Advance gifts have been accepted for the campaign since July 1991. The two largest of these gifts are a $50 million endowment pledge by the Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund for the School of Arts and Sciences, and a $20 million pledge by R. Champlin Sheridan and Debbie Sheridan for the endowment and renovation of the Milton S. Eisenhower Library.