What is The Stanford Fund?

The Stanford Fund for Undergraduate Education is the university's highest priority for annual giving. Used exclusively to support today's students, the fund is the most effective way for Stanford alumni, students, parents, and friends to contribute financial support for undergraduate education and student life.

What do gifts to The Stanford Fund support?

The Stanford Fund largely supports the university in three areas:

Scholarships: The largest portion of gifts to The Stanford Fund is used to fund scholarships. More than 1,000 undergraduates receive need-based Stanford Fund scholarships each year.
Teaching and learning: The Stanford Fund is a source of seed funding for innovative academic programs such as Stanford Introductory Studies.
Student life: In any given year, as many as 100 student groups, from club sports to performing arts groups to public service organizations, are supported by The Stanford Fund.

What is The Stanford Challenge and how can I participate?

The Stanford Challenge is a university-wide fundraising campaign that was launched in October 2006 and runs through December 31, 2011. The campaign seeks support for the university's efforts aimed at seeking solutions to complex global problems and educating students to play leadership roles in the 21^st century world.

Most alumni, parents, and friends will participate through an annual gift, but there are also many opportunities for those who wish to partner with Stanford on a key campaign priority through a more sizeable investment. Find out more about The Stanford Challenge.

Do gifts to The Stanford Fund count for The Stanford Challenge?

Yes. Annual giving, including gifts to The Stanford Fund, is a featured priority of The Stanford Challenge. Find out more about The Stanford Challenge.

What is the Atwell Match?

Thanks to a generous unrestricted bequest from Susanna Atwell, '37, MA '38, the university is able to offer the Atwell Match, a matching giving program specifically designed for annual gifts from recent graduates and current students. If you have graduated within the last ten years from one of Stanford's degree-granting programs—or if you are a current student—your gift to any of Stanford's annual funds will qualify for the Atwell Match. Outright gifts will be matched 50¢ to the dollar. Multi-year pledges including monthly gifts charged to a credit card every month for a minimum of twelve months, are matched dollar for dollar. Donors may give to more than one annual fund, since each gift or pledge qualifies for the match. (Matching gifts are capped at $1,000 per gift or pledge payment.) Read more about the Atwell Match.

How will I be recognized for my gift?

Every gift is recognized on our honor rolls. Leadership giving is recognized at the following levels:

President's Fund	$10,000 or more
Leadership Circle	$1,000 to $9,999

*Lower levels apply for young alumni: $500 for those five to nine years after graduation and $100 for those one to four years out.

What calendar does The Stanford Fund use to recognize gifts?

The Stanford Fund recognizes gifts according to the university's fiscal year, which runs from September 1 to August 31. For example, gifts received between September 1, 2009, and August 31, 2010, will be counted as fiscal 2010 gifts.

Class reunion campaigns run according to the calendar year in which the reunion is held. For example, gifts made by alumni to their reunion campaigns between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010, will also be considered reunion gifts.

I still have questions about The Stanford Fund. Where can I get more information?

Visit The Stanford Fund section of this site or contact us at thestanfordfund@stanford.edu.

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