Stories
These stories highlight the many ways you educate tomorrow’s changemakers, drive discoveries and innovation, help find solutions to societal challenges, and accelerate Stanford’s purposeful impact in the world.
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Recent gift highlights
Gift bolsters opportunities for undergraduates
A gift from Kelsey (Bateman) Murphy, ’10, and Bobby Murphy, ’10, creates an endowed directorship for the First-Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Center and expands undergraduate research and scholarship opportunities at Stanford.
Schwab gift will transform personal finance education
Backed by a gift from Charles Schwab and the Charles R. Schwab Foundation for Financial Freedom, a bold new program will combine education, research, and technology to build the future of personal finance.
Gift names Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign
The newly named center expands its scope after transformative gift
Supporting sustainability
Remembering energy leader Jay Precourt
The energy leader, philanthropist and Stanford alum, who has died at the age of 87, invigorated the conversation about sustainability – at Stanford and globally.
Gift establishes the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Stanford's first new school in 70 years will accelerate solutions to global climate crisis.
New program accelerates sustainable solutions through ecopreneurship
The Stanford Ecopreneurship program offers a set of courses and opportunities in pursuit of a more sustainable future.
Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion
Gift bolsters opportunities for undergraduates
A gift from Kelsey (Bateman) Murphy, ’10, and Bobby Murphy, ’10, creates an endowed directorship for the First-Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Center and expands undergraduate research and scholarship opportunities at Stanford.
Asian American Research Center launches
Students, alumni, and faculty have long advocated for Stanford to do more on Asian American research and issues. With donor support, a new research center aims to elevate Stanford’s scholarship on Asian Americans.
Gift helps expand, reimagine Native American Studies
Stanford's Native American Studies program receives a first-of-its-kind gift from Eric and Wendy Schmidt that will further existing offerings and support new ones
Gift boosts vision for the MLK Research and Education Institute
A gift from Evan Spiegel, ’12, helps advance the King Institute’s mission of preserving and promoting the rich legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gift advances postdoctoral training opportunities in sciences and medicine
A generous donation to Stanford provides funding for postdoctoral scholars who join the university through PRISM.
Donor generosity enables Leland Scholars Program expansion
Gifts, including $1 million in alumni and parent support through The Stanford Fund, will support expansion to 90 incoming students and a hybrid offering.
Philanthropy advances diversity and inclusion
Tonia, ’92, and Adam Karr’s foundational gift supports research on race and education and endows directorship of Black Community Services Center.
Foundational gift for Asian American Activities Center
With a generous gift to the center, siblings Will Hsu, ’98, and Angie Hsu, ’96, MA ’96, strengthen support for Stanford’s Asian and Asian American community.
FLI students find community at Stanford
Undergrad students experiencing temporary financial challenges find support and community through the Opportunity Fund.
Gift supports Stanford’s Black community
A gift from Evan Spiegel, ’12, will expand programs and create a permanent source of funding for the Black Community Services Center and Ujamaa House.
Supporting students
Donor-funded curriculum transformation projects gain momentum
Six teams across campus aim to ensure that all Stanford students can experience belonging and success.
Town Center Project reimagines the heart of campus
Stanford is restarting the Town Center Project, following a pause for the pandemic, to reimagine the heart of campus with a renewed focus on discourse and community building. An anonymous donor is providing funding for its centerpiece.
Cherishing community and chasing fun
Caroline Cahilly, ’24, reflects on her time spent with running club and the impact that donor support through The Stanford Fund has had on her student group.
CareerEd expands funding and services for student internships
The Rising Bird Career Fellowship program helps Stanford students prepare for and find internships.
Dual investments strengthen COLLEGE
Stanford’s efforts to reimagine the first-year undergraduate experience are bolstered by generous gifts from Nehal Raj, ’00, MS ’00.
Annual gifts through The Stanford Fund benefit all undergrads
A collection of stories about donors supporting financial aid, academic innovations, and a wide array of student programs and organizations.
Celebrating community and identity through art
Gifts through The Stanford Fund provide resources for students to showcase their stories, celebrate culture, and create a new style of theater on campus.
Helping Underrepresented Students Excel in STEM
A matching program magnifies reunion gifts to provide multiple scholarships.
An academic and creative journey, with help from scholarship donors
Scholarship support gave John Okhiulu, ’21, the chance to develop his own creative voice. Now he wants to help youth from marginalized communities thrive.
Donor gifts expand student mental health and well-being resources
The endowed directorship for Counseling and Psychological Services, held by Bina Pulkit Patel, is among the first of its kind.
Science fellows program launched with philanthropic support
With a fundamentally new type of postdoctoral training, the program aims to attract a diverse and exceptional pool of global scholars.
Financial aid meant he could pursue his passions
Donor support made it possible for Sam Duke, ’20, to study what he is passionate about—and graduate debt free.
Supporting science and technology
Gift names Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign
The newly named center expands its scope after transformative gift
Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance will explore peak performance to help all people thrive
New scientific and research partnership made possible by foundational gift from Clara Wu Tsai, ’88, MA ’88, and Joe Tsai.
Harnessing AI to build a better future
With foundational support from Reid Hoffman and Michelle Yee, six inaugural grantees are embarking on ambitious AI projects.
Alumna gift names the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
The philanthropic investment will accelerate understanding of how the brain functions and pave the way for new treatments.
New “team science” complex focuses on brain research and molecular discovery
Fueled by philanthropy, a new research complex dedicated to improving human health opens this month.
New home for life sciences at Stanford
The Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Biology Research Building provides lab space for faculty, staff, students, and fellows.
Improving how Stanford teaches chemistry
Reconstructed chemistry classes offer a better experience for students with support from donations through The Stanford Fund.
Supporting medicine
Gift names Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign
The newly named center expands its scope after transformative gift
Gift propels a new Stanford program designed to help entrepreneurs
Longtime donor Li Ka-shing also provides support for leading faculty members.
Pediatric emergency department melds expert care with child-centered space
The Marc and Laura Andreessen Pediatric Emergency Department at Stanford Medicine opened in 2022.
Gift to reimagine facility for moms and babies
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s support will modernize the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford obstetric and neonatal facilities.
A gift to combat neurodegeneration
Philip, MBA ’62, and Penny Knight invest in a new initiative on brain resilience to inspire new discoveries in brain aging and resilience and usher in a new era for brain science and health.
A gift to improve the health of mothers and babies
A bold new clinical and research program has been launched with a donation from Elizabeth and Bruce Dunlevie, MBA ’84.
Foundational gift will benefit human health
Stanford ChEM-H renamed Sarafan ChEM-H in recognition of gift from university trustee Lily Sarafan, ’03, MA ’03.
Gift launches new Center for Pediatric IBD and Celiac Disease
Stanford Children's Hospital researchers now able to offer more treatments for young patients suffering from gastrointestinal diseases
A gift to eliminate medical student debt
With funding to cover both tuition and living expenses for students who qualify for aid, the gift will eliminate the need for medical student loans.
A gift to honor frontline health care workers
After a photo of Stanford nurse anesthetist Emma Tveretinov went viral, she received a surprise opportunity to donate to the nonprofit of her choice: Stanford Health Care.
Supporting arts and humanities
Fisher family expands campus arts district
The new public artwork installation by award-winning American sculptor and environmental artist Beverly Pepper is an iteration of an installation in Italy created specifically for the Stanford campus.
Art by Pollock, de Kooning gifted to Anderson Collection
The donation by the late Mary Margaret “Moo” Anderson came as the museum commemorated its fifth anniversary and launched a new fundraising effort.
Paying tribute to a legendary leader
Elam’s departure inspired a generous gift honoring the former professor and arts and education leader and all that he did during his tenure.
Cantor receives collection of 1,000 photos
The gift will also provide funding for a curatorial fellow position to oversee the collection of works by Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and others.
Gift creates hub highlighting Silicon Valley history
The first floor of the Cecil H. Green Library will be renovated and renamed Hohbach Hall, offering improved access to curators, historians and materials that document Silicon Valley’s evolution.
Supporting teaching and learning
Supporting athletics
Women’s gymnastics bolstered by donor gift
Assistant coach position endowed by Larissa Fontaine, ’00, MS ’02, MBA ’08, and Peter Langenfeld, ’00, MS ’02.
Golf coaching endowment honors alum
The late Hong Seh Lim was a longtime supporter of Stanford’s golf programs.
Longtime donors fund endowed assistant coach position
Demi Runas will serve as the inaugural Duan Family Assistant Women's Golf Coach.
Generous gift boosts women’s rowing
A gift from Gail and Nick Farwell, ’70, MBA ’80, will endow the head coach position.
VanDerveer honored with named court, coachship
A women’s basketball assistant coachship to honor former coach Tara VanDerveer was created by a gift from Tashia and John Morgridge, MBA ’57.
Alumni gifts help student-athletes compete at the highest levels
The incredible dedication of Cardinal fans has led to coachships to help recruit and retain coaches, scholarships for student-athletes, and programmatic funds to bolster varsity sports.
Support that goes beyond campus
Stanford joins international initiative
Through Project Liberty’s Institute, Stanford will collaborate with Georgetown and Sciences Po.
Gift supports summer fellows program at CDDRL
A gift from the Fisher Family provides opportunities for civic leaders from around the world.
Supporting research into global poverty
The Stanford King Center on Global Development expands efforts to improve quality of life in the developing world.
How students give back through Cardinal Quarter
Students share how they chose to give back during their Cardinal Quarter.
The virtues of Cardinal Service
Two families combine a love for Stanford and a belief in public service by making it possible for more students to volunteer for causes that matter.
Planned gifts
Donating rental property while maintaining income and building your Stanford legacy
Rental properties can be outstanding investments, but they also come with the work of management and maintenance. Jimmy and Jean Kan decided to simplify their lives–while still maintaining an income stream–by transferring a rental property to Stanford through a charitable remainder unitrust.
Good Counsel: The benefits of donating real estate to a charitable remainder unitrust
Donating long-held rental property is an outstanding way to realize the many benefits of establishing a unitrust with Stanford.
A lasting gift for neuroscience and human health
A Stanford alum and her husband make a bequest and create their legacy at Stanford
Celebrating donors
Remembering energy leader Jay Precourt
The energy leader, philanthropist and Stanford alum, who has died at the age of 87, invigorated the conversation about sustainability – at Stanford and globally.
Charlie Munger changed Stanford graduate housing
Renowned investor Charlie Munger, 99, changed Stanford graduate housing
Stanford remembers Gordon Moore
The Intel founder and philanthropist made numerous transformative gifts across the university over four decades.
Lorry I. Lokey, alum and philanthropist who transformed Stanford, dies at 95
Former Stanford Daily editor, Business Wire founder, and Giving Pledge member dedicated much of his generosity to Stanford.
Bob and Dottie King honored with Uncommon Citizen award
Longtime volunteers and philanthropists, the Kings have transformed Stanford’s work on global development and other priorities.
Remembering longtime Stanford philanthropist John Arrillaga
Alumnus John Arrillaga reshaped the Stanford campus with extraordinary generosity, professional expertise and volunteer service.