Ways to give

Whether you wish to make an annual gift, consider a gift of endowment, or discuss your estate plans, we will strive to make your experience as rewarding as possible. Gifts of any size are welcome because they add up to make a tangible difference to people throughout the school.

Annual giving | View»

Annual gifts to the Engineering Fund allow the dean and departments to seize new opportunities as they emerge— such as seed-funding a research project, granting a fellowship to an outstanding student, or investing in new equipment. A generous annual fund is vital to maintaining the school’s excellence.

Endowed gifts | View»

A gift of endowment is a permanent investment in the school, our students, and our faculty. The income from an endowment provides us with an ongoing source of funding that grows over time; as the invested principal increases, so does the annual payout. A gift of endowment to the School of Engineering can transform the school and shape the course of engineering. Most often designated for a professorship or fellowship, an endowed fund can recognize the donor or someone the donor wishes to honor in perpetuity and provides Stanford with an enduring source of support.

Term endowment

Term endowment funds are spent over a specific period of time during which they are invested with the university’s endowment to take advantage of potentially higher investment returns. These gifts recognize that a valuable set of activities may not exist in perpetuity, but that a significant investment for a period of time can help them grow and achieve a measure of stability.

Expendable funds

Expendable funds make a major impact because they are spent down over one to 10 years. These funds make a big difference as we launch new programs, recruit new faculty, or fund student programs. The highest priority for School of Engineering expendable funds is start-up packages for new faculty, which provide equipment, student support, and summer salary as they establish themselves. These funds are critical to successful faculty recruitment. Strong start-up packages are compelling enticements and help ensure that new faculty can launch their careers at Stanford.

Capital gifts

Gifts made for capital projects support construction and renovation costs associated with particular buildings, which in turn supports the innovative faculty, students, and programs that occupy those buildings over time.

Planned giving

Through careful planning, a donor may be able to make a sizable contribution to the school through a bequest or living trust; by designating Stanford as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, IRA, or other retirement plan; or by means of a “life income gift” that can provide a donor with considerable tax savings currently as well as an income for life.