Stories
These stories highlight the many ways you educate tomorrow’s change-makers, 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
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Generous gifts mark new era for the Stanford Graduate School of Education
The new building will unite the GSE and become home to the Stanford Accelerator for Learning.
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Historic gift establishes the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Stanford's first new school in 70 years will accelerate solutions to global climate crisis.
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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.
Celebrating donors
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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.
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Remembering longtime Stanford philanthropist John Arrillaga
Alumnus John Arrillaga reshaped the Stanford campus with extraordinary generosity, professional expertise and volunteer service.
Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion
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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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A community for first-gen students, with donor support
Like many first-gen and/or low income (FLI) students at Stanford, Sheck Mulbah, ’20, found community and support through the FLI Office.
Supporting students
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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.
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Annual gifts through The Stanford Fund benefit nearly all undergrads
A collection of stories about donors supporting financial aid, academic innovations, and a wide array of student programs and organizations.
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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
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Helping Underrepresented Students Excel in STEM
New matching program magnifies reunion gift to provide multiple scholarships.
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An academic and creative journey, with help from scholarship donors
Scholarship support gave John Okhiulu, ’21, the chance develop his own creative voice. Now he wants to help youth from marginalized communities thrive.
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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.
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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.
Financial aid puts a dream within reach
Jemima Oso, ’16, thought of Stanford as her “super-reach” school, financially and academically. With scholarship support, her dream became a reality, and now she’s paying it forward.
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Students embrace compassion during COVID-19
Drawing on lessons learned at Stanford, members of the Class of 2020 found creative ways to make a positive impact during unusual times.
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Escondido Village Graduate Residences open to inaugural residents
John Arrillaga, ’60, provided more than $100 million and other major support for the project, which also benefited from an anonymous donor.
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Connecting middle schoolers with Stanford student mentors
With support from The Stanford Fund donors, undergraduate women at Stanford are playing a special mentorship role for local school girls.
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Dancing for children’s health
Stanford students use dance to raise funds for children fighting cancer and blood diseases.
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Sharing a passion for learning
Stanford students help to close the opportunity gap by tutoring low-income students.
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49ers co-owner gives back
Gideon Yu, ’93, and wife Susie support financial aid at Stanford.
Supporting science and technology
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Improving how Stanford teaches chemistry
Reconstructed chemistry classes offer a better experience for students with support from donations through The Stanford Fund.
Supporting medicine and health care
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Harnessing the microbiome to treat disease
Backed by gifts from Marc and Lynne Benioff and Mark and Debra Leslie, a new initiative will focus on developing and testing microbiome-based disease therapies.
Supporting arts and humanities
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 athletics
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.
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Fans and former student-athletes rally to support varsity sports
To ensure a future for all 36 varsity sports programs, donors are stepping forward to provide long-term sources of funding.
Alumni support bolsters wrestling program
Endowed coachships honor Olympians Matt Gentry, Patricia Miranda.
Donors provide support for women’s basketball program
All of the Stanford women’s basketball coachships have now been endowed.
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Alums invest in future success of rowing programs
A recent gift to the Stanford Rowing programs will provide lasting support, enabling both teams to retain and recruit the very best coaching staffs.
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NBA player supports summer studies
Josh Childress, ’05, established the first-ever athletic scholarship for summer term.
Support that goes beyond campus
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Supporting research into global poverty
The Stanford King Center on Global Development expands efforts to improve quality of life in the developing world.
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Global Law Program expands with $25 million gift
The largest alumni gift in Stanford Law School history commemorates the school’s 125th anniversary.
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Investing in others: Dave and Alice Mount
The couple, who met in a Stanford Earth class, are doubling the impact of their philanthropy with a gift through the Emmett Matching Program.
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How students give back through Cardinal Quarter
Students share how they chose to give back during their Cardinal Quarter.
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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
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A gift honoring professors who inspired
With their planned gift, a Stanford alum and her husband remember two beloved Stanford professors.
A gift from a dedicated Stanford family continues a legacy of support
Anna Marie Spilker establishes planned gift to advance research in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the School of Engineering.
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Inspiring future gifts from all communities
A minister dedicates his life to helping those less fortunate. He hopes his planned gift encourages other alums of color to support the next generation.
A gift to Stanford can pay you back
As the owner of an apartment complex, Mandana Varnoos looked for a tax-smart way to retire while supporting a cause meaningful to her.
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A bequest helps Stanford GSB support students with disabilities
With a gift in her living trust, a widow honors her husband, Paris Thermenos, MBA ’83, and helps others.
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A win-win solution for charitable giving
With a charitable remainder unitrust gift, the Blochs were able to maximize their contributions, reduce their tax burden, and help to set the Stanford Law School up for long-term success.
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The rewards of retirement
His gift will fight cancer. Hers will help deserving students. Both provide annual payments to the donors for life.
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A gift helps pay for retirement
After 40 years in their Palo Alto home, Steve and Karen Ross decided it was time to move on. They used an interest in the house to establish a charitable remainder unitrust, which gives them income payments for life.
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Every day, a Stanford connection
Kent Kaiser, ’59, has been finding Stanford community in surprising places for six decades. Now, he’s honoring that lifelong connection with a charitable remainder unitrust.