The Stanford Fund 2024–25 Impact Report

Opening doors and closing gaps

Thank you for supporting students through The Stanford Fund.

Your gift brings the dream of a Stanford education within reach, expanding access and creating opportunities for undergraduates across campus. From need-based financial aid and innovative academics to student groups and campus programs, you are equipping students of all backgrounds to open doors to new possibilities, tackle tough problems, and thrive throughout their time at Stanford.

Find your name on the honor roll

17,400 donors made a gift through The Stanford Fund

$29.5M was raised through The Stanford Fund

Financial aid

Your generosity changes lives by ensuring that students receive the support they need through scholarships and grants, not loans. Ninety percent of gifts made through The Stanford Fund are directed to financial aid. Last year, nearly 50 percent of all undergraduates benefited from need-based aid, more than 85 percent of students graduated debt-free, and 509 students received Stanford Fund Scholarships.

Receiving financial aid completely shaped my Stanford experience. Without it, attending a place like Stanford would not have been possible. With it, I was able to fully participate in the Stanford community without constant financial stress. Because of donor support, I was able to explore classes I loved and had the freedom to dive into research.”

Evelyn Choi, ’25

Opportunities to learn, connect, and grow

Stanford Fund Scholarships give students like rising sophomore Laolu Oguneye, ’28, the opportunity to experience the transformative power of a Stanford education.

“My time at Stanford has been nothing short of incredible,” said Oguneye. “Studying computer science has given me a chance to dive into learning while being surrounded by inspiring individuals. During the late nights I’ve spent in Green Library and Old Union working on problem sets, I’ve found a sense of community with people who are as passionate and driven as I am. There is something about those study sessions that, while challenging, really make me feel like I’m a part of something special.

Every experience I’ve had at Stanford feels like it’s building toward a larger goal, and it’s because of the generosity of Stanford Fund donors that I get to be here. This truly feels like a place where anything is possible, and where each day brings a new opportunity to learn, connect, and grow.”

Laolu Oguneye, ’28

A legacy that lasts

Erin Schaefer, ’00, is part of a proud Stanford legacy—one that began with her parents, Robert L., ’67, JD ’70, and the late Kerry Townsend Bouchier, ’66, both of whom were able to attend the university thanks to financial aid. Through their experiences, she was introduced to what she calls “this magical place,” eventually developing Stanford aspirations of her own.

“As someone who was academic but also social and loved sports, I saw Stanford as the only place that could feed all my interests and passions,” she says.

The Farm was, in fact, the right place for Schaefer. “The learning I did inside and outside the classroom and the people I met were truly transformative for me,” she says.

Schaefer fondly recalls late-night conversations over pizza in the dorms, participating in Stanford in Washington, camping out with the 6th Man Club to secure front row seats for major basketball games, and even swimming in the president’s pool during Sophomore College when Gerhard Casper was her professor.

Previous generations gave to make Stanford what it was for us,” says Schaefer, whose family has established a scholarship at the university in memory of her late mother. “It’s our turn to do that now for today’s and tomorrow’s students.”

Erin Schaefer, ’00

Academics

Your gift supports academic excellence and innovative learning opportunities across all three undergraduate schools—the School of Humanities and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Last year, your support also funded transformative experiential learning opportunities like the Bing Overseas Studies Program. You enabled students to gain a global perspective and enrich their undergraduate education by studying away in places like Berlin, Cape Town, Florence, and Madrid.

Expanding horizons, broadening perspectives

Madhin’s Stanford in Madrid cohort at the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A group poses and smiles together — Madhin’s Stanford in Madrid cohort, spring 2024.

Coterm student Tesfa Madhin, ’25, knows the value of experiential learning. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in sustainability science and practice, he credits hands-on opportunities like Stanford’s Living Laboratory Fellowship Program for Sustainability and the Bing Overseas Studies Program in Madrid for enriching his undergraduate education. “I used my quarter in Madrid to explore Spanish culture, traveling across the country to places like Barcelona, San Sebastian, Grenada, Valencia, Segovia, and Toledo,” he says. “I also was lucky enough to take a class that took us on the last 120 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage, and we spent five days walking from hostel to hostel. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget.”

Madhin’s courses back on the Farm also allowed him to explore the world beyond campus. In Understand Energy, his class took field trips to energy sites across California, and in the field seminar Living on the Edge, students got to go camping along the Pacific Coast Highway.

“My experience at Stanford has expanded my horizons and broadened my perspectives in a way I never would have imagined as a first-year student.”

Tesfa Madhin, ’25

Learning without limits

For Kenny Dao, ’25, receiving financial aid meant the freedom to focus on what truly mattered to him—growing academically, building community, and supporting others. “Without the burden of financial stress, I was able to pursue opportunities like teaching, mentorship, and research that would have otherwise felt out of reach,” he says. Serving as a teaching assistant for introductory computer science courses became one of the most meaningful parts of Dao’s Stanford journey. “The students in my classes helped me realize that education is not just about transferring knowledge,” he says. “It’s about creating community and fostering curiosity.”

Dao also credits his time at Stanford for helping him make friends from around the world, explore new ideas at the frontier of technology, and prepare for life after college. “The generosity of Stanford Fund donors has not only changed my life but also broken the cycle of generational poverty in my family,” he says. “I hope that one day I’ll be in a position to pay it forward and help another student dream just as big.”

Student life

Your gift supports a vibrant student experience at Stanford, including long-running traditions like the Mausoleum Party and Gaieties. It helps fund the university’s eight community and cultural centers, which promote belonging, leadership, and mentorship through social activities, academic programs, and outreach events. Your generosity also sustains more than 200 student-led groups—from performing arts troupes to club sports—reflecting our students’ boundless ambition and wide range of interests. With your support, students can attend conferences and tournaments, produce art and theater, purchase essential equipment, and host events that bring the campus community together.

At Stanford, anything is possible

Lily Loughridge, ’25, describes the culture at Stanford as fast-moving and full of ideas.

Lily Loughridge, ’25, co-founded Stanford Women in Tech Entrepreneurship (SWITE) and served as its president while pursuing a degree in symbolic systems. In the video above, she shares how the Women’s Community Center—one of eight community and cultural centers funded through The Stanford Fund—has been a cornerstone for SWITE activities, and how alumni have been an essential part of the community, acting as mentors, advisors, and guest speakers.

The rhythm of belonging

A dance group poses — Shreya Komar, ’26, (back row, second from left) with Stanford Noopur.

For Shreya Komar, ’26, dance is more than just a hobby. Leading and performing with Stanford Noopur—the university’s premier classical Indian dance team and one of more than 200 student groups supported by gifts made through The Stanford Fund—has been one of the most rewarding parts of her Stanford journey.

“Stanford Noopur has provided me with a creative outlet and a way to connect deeply with my cultural heritage, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of Stanford Fund donors,” she says.

As team captain, Komar has found a vibrant community of peers who share her passion for classical dance and encourage each other’s growth as dancers and as individuals. She credits the role that donor generosity has played in this meaningful experience.

“Gifts through The Stanford Fund enable groups like ours to thrive, fostering spaces where students can express themselves, build community, and showcase their talents,” she says. “Whether we’re choreographing intricate routines or performing at events like Diwali on campus, I’ve been struck by the sense of belonging and purpose this group gives to each of us. It’s one of the experiences I’ll cherish most when I look back on my time here.”

Confidence and community

As a little girl growing up in rural West Virginia, Nevaeh Nichols, ’26, had big dreams, including being the first in her family to go to college. Thanks to the alumni and friends who give through The Stanford Fund, she is overcoming barriers and pursuing the life-changing education she always dreamed about.

“I never imagined that my desire to succeed and provide for my family would take me from the secluded Appalachian Mountains all the way to Stanford—ߵWhere the rolling foothills rise/Up towards mountains higher’,” Nichols says.

Attending Stanford has allowed Nichols to thrive both academically and personally. The international relations major has had the chance to take eye-opening classes like Genocide and Humanitarian Intervention and engage in experiential learning opportunities such as the Bing Overseas Studies Program in Florence, Stanford in Washington, Cardinal Quarter, and a U.S. Department of State foreign service internship. Nichols’ undergraduate journey has been supported by The Stanford Fund in a variety of ways, including a grant from the Opportunity Fund, which helps students cover academic and professional development expenses.

“The grant I received to purchase business attire enabled me to approach interviews and networking events with confidence, something that made an immediate impact on my professional development,” she says.

Beyond academics, Nichols has enjoyed participating in a number of student traditions and activities made possible by gifts through The Stanford Fund, including Kappa Alpha Theta, Stanford’s oldest sorority, which strives to build community, foster personal growth, and make a difference on campus.

“I am grateful for the community of Stanford Fund donors who care so deeply about undergraduates,” she says. “They believe in us and make this university a place where students from all walks of life can belong, give back, and realize our dreams.”

Campus spotlight

Dollars for Doers: turning service into support

Every hour that Stanford students and young alumni volunteer can become a catalyst for change, thanks to the Dollars for Doers Challenge. Through this program, juniors, graduating seniors, and recent alumni have the opportunity to transform their volunteer service into meaningful financial support for Stanford students. Participants log volunteer hours, and for each hour, generous alumni challengers contribute $25 to the part of undergraduate life that volunteers choose to support.

This program not only inspires service—it also multiplies its impact through matching gifts that fuel scholarships, student programs, community resources, and more. The 2024–25 Dollars for Doers Challenge engaged 3,271 volunteer hours and unlocked $84,235 in donations toward student life and academics, demonstrating the dual power of service and philanthropy in action.

Stanford Day of Giving

A student designs swag to celebrate Stanford’s inaugural Day of Giving.

Stanford students come together during Day of Giving festivities.

One day. Thousands of gifts. Millions in impact. Stanford’s first-ever Day of Giving was a university-wide, 36-hour celebration of community and generosity. It brought together alumni, students, staff, and friends to support vital work across the university, from academics and research to health care, athletics, and undergraduate students through The Stanford Fund.

774 donors made a gift through The Stanford Fund

$825,000 was raised for The Stanford Fund

Sustainability in motion

Student works in greenhouse — Student at O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm.

Student harvests in the garden — Hands on learning at O’Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm.

Two men looking at fruit on a tree — Exploring sustainable agriculture at O’Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm.

From eco-friendly campus transportation to hands-on learning at the O’Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm, donor support is helping students live, learn, and lead with sustainability in mind.

In spring 2025, Students for a Sustainable Stanford helped students travel home more sustainably by supporting a low-cost spring break shuttle to San Francisco International Airport. The service provided shared rides for nearly 150 students, preventing almost one ton of carbon dioxide emissions. Gifts made through The Stanford Fund significantly offset costs for the service, enabling the program to deliver an affordable, environmentally friendly travel option to the campus community. Thanks to donor support, The Stanford Fund is committed to supporting this program and additional student shuttles in the upcoming academic year.

Gifts made through The Stanford Fund also support the O’Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm, managed by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. Students utilize the farm to test new ideas about the biological, social, and environmental aspects of farming and gain experience in the practice of sustainable agriculture. On-farm research spaces also provide faculty and students with hands-on learning opportunities in agroecology, engineering, and more.

In their own words

What helps make the Stanford undergraduate experience unforgettable?

Jenny Wei, ’26

“Whether it’s studying together late into the night, organizing philanthropy events, or simply sharing laughs over dinner, my sorority has given me a sense of belonging and a space to grow. I’m incredibly grateful to the donors who support undergraduate life at Stanford—their generosity enables organizations like ours to thrive.”

Katelyn Kramer, ’26

“As I’ve progressed through my major, environmental systems engineering with a focus on energy, I have really enjoyed classes—such as my course on environmental justice and Product Realization: Design and Making, in which I got to use the Product Realization Lab to make incredible and cool things! Alongside these courses, I have gotten to branch out and take a variety of fun classes, such as Social Dance, Intro to Film Studies, and even Power Yoga. I am so lucky to be able to go to a university that has such a diverse set of academically challenging courses, as well as courses that foster joy!”

Charlotte Richard, ’27

“I chose to come to Stanford to push myself outside of my comfort zone and into a place where I was surrounded by people different from me, but each motivated and pursuing their passions. I have met people from all walks of life that I would have never encountered without Stanford, all with their own ambition and motivation. I am so excited for my next two years! I am grateful that The Stanford Fund provides support for students from all backgrounds so that I can continue to meet new people and explore new areas of campus.”

Marco Paes, ’27

“From baking and selling bread to combat food insecurity with Challah for Hunger to organizing beach cleanups with the Pacifica Beach Coalition, and countless other projects, these experiences have taught me that service is not just an obligation—it’s a privilege. They’ve reminded me of the power of community and the importance of giving back to the places that shape us. This involvement on campus represents the best of what Stanford stands for: collaboration, leadership, and a commitment to service.”

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Why I give

Couple smiles in front of Lake Tahoe — Adair, ’19, and Brad Zdroik, ’19

“We are proud to support an institution and community that values interdisciplinary achievement and diversity of thought, and whose culture is uniquely fun.”

Stanford Fund donors Adair, ’19, and Brad Zdroik, ’19, have a special place in their hearts for their alma mater. Stanford is where the two former student-athletes met and fell in love, built lasting friendships, and found a community that continues to shape their lives. “We give because we want to ensure Stanford continues to offer the same life-changing experiences to others,” they say. “We also give because we believe in Stanford’s commitment to excellence, be it academic, athletic, or otherwise.”

The Zdroiks’ favorite Stanford memories range from simple everyday moments with friends—like weekend dining hall brunches and participating in campus traditions—to transformative opportunities made possible by support from the university, including studying abroad in Poland, Russia, and Florence. These experiences, big and small, broadened their horizons and deepened their sense of connection to the world.

“We owe it to future classes to ensure the Stanford experience continues to be what it was for so many of us,” they say. “We would not have been able to attend Stanford were it not for the generous donations of other alumni, whose philanthropy also provided for the continuation of some of our favorite groups, traditions, and events.”

Eric Rosenfeld, ’90

“My relationship with Stanford began with awe and excitement. Now it’s awe and gratitude.”

For Eric Rosenfeld, ’90, supporting Stanford is about fueling a cycle of excellence. “If Stanford has the resources to attract world-class faculty and staff, it will continue to attract the world’s most ambitious and enterprising students—future leaders who will one day reinvest back in Stanford for the next generation,” he says. “Plus, it feels good.” Rosenfeld still remembers what drew him to the Farm as a prospective student. While other schools focused on majors, at Stanford, “students were focused on finding their mission,” he says. The sunshine and palm trees did not hurt either. Once on campus, Rosenfeld filled his days with moments that still stand out—from thought-provoking conversations with David Kennedy, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History, Emeritus, to attending Gaieties with its irreverent humor and full-throttle energy, to unforgettable visits from leaders like Jesse Jackson, Desmond Tutu, and Jimmy Carter.

Now a proud Stanford parent, he sees giving as a way to deepen his connection to the university. “Paying tuition feels transactional.…giving to Stanford, at any level, feels more relational,” he reflects.

Share your story

Why do you choose to support students through The Stanford Fund? What inspires you to give back?

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Written by Chase Shepley
Edited by Veronica Schindler

Opening doors and closing gaps

Thank you for supporting students through The Stanford Fund.

Academics

Student life