After retirement in 1995, as one of the longest-serving chancellors in the country, he continued to be involved in the University, serving as the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and was named Chancellor Emeritus in 1999. Danforth helped to transition Washington University from a local college to a national research university. Chancellor Danforth raised $630.5 million under the Alliance for Washington University, which was the most successful fundraising campaign in U.S. higher education at that time. He established 70 new faculty chairs, grew the endowment to $1.72 billion, oversaw the construction of dozens of new buildings, and tripled the amount of scholarships awarded to students. Almost 60,000 students graduated while Danforth was Chancellor, and retention of undergraduate students grew during his chancellorship. In addition, recruitment of minority students increased.