Your Class of 2020 Reunion Campaign

Giving isn’t just about need—it’s about impact. Stanford is tackling big problems at a global scale, and we can't do it without your support. Stanford is among the few institutions with a long-term outlook, addressing challenges that can take more than a lifetime to solve.

Consider that you’re not giving to Stanford; you’re giving through Stanford. And with your gift, you’re supporting people and programs working toward critical advances in medicine, education, foreign policy, technology, sustainability, social policy, and much more.

With your gift, you are supporting the health and well-being of all students, fostering an inclusive community, and helping to prepare the leaders of tomorrow. The energy, ideas, and inspiration that begin on our campus have an impact on our communities, our country, and the world at large. A Stanford student who benefits from your generosity today might go on to found the next Google, become a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, or make groundbreaking advancements in medicine, sustainability, or technology.

The majority of gifts to Stanford—and 75 percent of endowment funds—are restricted and must be used as the original donors intended. For example, funds given for research cannot be used for financial aid or be transferred from one academic school to another.

Each year, the university spends the maximum from the endowment that is sustainable over time. In a typical year, the endowment payout covers about 21 percent of Stanford’s more than $6 billion operating expense—so the university must fund about 80 percent of its annual expenses via other sources, including through gifts from the Stanford community.

The combination of endowed gifts and annual giving helps Stanford provide financial aid to all qualified U.S. students, regardless of their ability to pay.

Yes! Most gifts made to Stanford are less than $1,000—but together they add up to millions. And the flexibility of annual, expendable gifts makes them especially valuable.

The annual payout rate of an endowed fund is about 5 percent. That means a $1,000 gift made through The Stanford Fund has the same budget offset as a $20,000 endowed fund. Such funding is vital for creating a rich and vibrant learning environment that benefits all students.

Reunion campaigns are critical to the university's continued success, and supporting today’s undergrads through The Stanford Fund is a top priority for your class campaign. Stanford Fund dollars sustain the many aspects of the student experience that make Stanford unique. Virtually all the university’s 7,800 undergrads benefit in some way from The Stanford Fund, and the Farm simply wouldn’t be the same without the generosity of alumni who give during their reunion campaigns.