From the beginning, the expense of attending Stanford has been borne in part by the generosity of others. Gifts to The Stanford Fund play a crucial role in helping today's students achieve their potential and maintaining the university's excellence in undergraduate education. A gift to The Stanford Fund is a meaningful way to participate in The Stanford Challenge.

Flexible Funds for Top Priorities

Gifts to the fund are used by the president for top priorities in undergraduate education—scholarships, academic innovation, and student life. The fund's flexibility enables the president to tailor support as circumstances change.

A Necessary Complement to the Endowment

Endowment refers to assets that are invested for the long term and intended to provide a permanent source of support for the university. Stanford’s endowment is a collection of more than 6,000 individual funds, each one named and used in accordance with the donor’s wishes. Some of these funds are designated for undergraduate programs, but many are restricted to other purposes like medical research or graduate fellowships.

In contrast, The Stanford Fund is  both expendable—which means it can be spent to meet immediate needs—and discretionary, which means the president can direct it toward the programs within undergraduate education that need it most.

Gifts That Add Up

Last year, more than 30,000 donors contributed nearly $20 million. The Stanford Fund helps maintain the university's unique character and keep its traditions alive by funding more than 100 eclectic student groups and vibrant campus centers. And, since 1996, gifts to The Stanford Fund have provided close to $100 million in need-based scholarships, making a Stanford education possible for talented students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Find out more about how Stanford Fund gifts were used.