Stories from the Stanford community

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.

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.

Historic gift establishes the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

Stanford's first new school in 70 years will accelerate solutions to global climate crisis.

Helping Underrepresented Students Excel in STEM

New matching program magnifies reunion gift to provide multiple scholarships.

Progress on Stanford’s Long-Range Vision highlighted at Academic Council meeting

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne reviewed key progress made toward implementing the university’s Long-Range Vision during his annual report to the Academic Council.

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.

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.

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.

Admitted to Stanford: Class of 2026 reacts

Students share the moments of opening their Stanford acceptance letters.

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.

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

CARES Act not extended for 2022

What you need to know about the CARES Act provisions that expired at the end of 2021.

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

Remembering longtime Stanford philanthropist John Arrillaga

Alumnus John Arrillaga reshaped the Stanford campus with extraordinary generosity, professional expertise and volunteer service.

Alumni support bolsters wrestling program

Endowed coachships honor Olympians Matt Gentry, Patricia Miranda.

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.

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.

Donors provide support for women’s basketball program

All of the Stanford women’s basketball coachships have now been endowed.

Stanford 2021 year in review

Looking back on a year that saw the Stanford community reconnect after 18 months apart and resume in-person teaching, working and learning.

Endowment created in honor of Onnie Killefer

Onnie Killefer was Stanford’s first All-American in field hockey.

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.

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.

Gift helps men’s volleyball program prepare for future success

John Kosty to serve as Birkhofer Family Men’s Volleyball Head Coach

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.

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.

Donors boost support for men’s volleyball program

Endowed coachships honor legends Al Roderigues and Shoji brothers

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Good Counsel: The benefits of a charitable remainder unitrust

Jamie Downes, associate director of planned giving, explains the benefits of charitable remainder unitrusts.

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.

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.

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.

FLI students find community at Stanford

Undergrad students experiencing temporary financial challenges find support and community through the Opportunity Fund.

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.

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 research into global poverty

The Stanford King Center on Global Development expands efforts to improve quality of life in the developing world.

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.

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.

Dancing for children’s health

Stanford students use dance to raise funds for children fighting cancer and blood diseases.

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.

Sharing a passion for learning

Stanford students help to close the opportunity gap by tutoring low-income students.

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.

The rewards of retirement

His gift will fight cancer. Hers will help deserving students. Both provide annual payments to the donors for life.

Global Law Program expands with $25 million gift

The largest alumni gift in Stanford Law School history commemorates the school’s 125th anniversary.

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.

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.

Improving how Stanford teaches chemistry

Reconstructed chemistry classes offer a better experience for students with support from donations through The Stanford Fund.

Endowed fellowship gift honors Maryam Mirzakhani

The late Stanford professor was the first and to-date only female winner of the Fields Medal, considered the Nobel Prize of mathematics.

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.

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.

How students give back through Cardinal Quarter

Students share how they chose to give back during their Cardinal Quarter.

NBA player supports summer studies

Josh Childress, ’05, established the first-ever athletic scholarship for summer term.

Growing a new crop of sustainability leaders

Laura and Kevin O’Donohue, MBA ’87, have helped to establish an educational farm in the heart of campus.

Basketball scholarship honors the late Anne Paye

With a gift from Paye’s husband, Edward Storm, Stanford women are finding support on the court and in the classroom.

49ers co-owner gives back

Gideon Yu, ’93, and wife Susie support financial aid at Stanford.

An unusual path forges bright futures

Stanford helped Susan Harman, MBA ’79, set a new course. Her gift helps others do the same.

Freedom from debt

Financial aid—including scholarship support from The Stanford Fund—enabled Darius White, ’11, MA ’12, to graduate from Stanford without student loans.

A cycle of generosity

Miriam Rivera, ’86, MA ’89, JD/MBA ’95, who benefited from a scholarship when she was a student, later endowed a scholarship to help future students thrive.