Stanford Report, January 26, 2016

Stanford releases fundraising results

Stanford University reported $801.6 million in cash gifts during the fiscal year that ended August 31, 2015, as well as $622.3 million in gifts of art and $201.1 million for the support of the university's two hospitals. Nearly 83,000 alumni, parents, students and friends contributed, marking a new record for Stanford.

The $622.3 million includes, among other gifts of art, the value of the Anderson Collection at Stanford University, an assembly of post-World War II art donated by Harry W. and Mary Margaret Anderson and their daughter, Mary Patricia Anderson Pence. Their collection of 121 paintings and sculptures opened to the public in September 2014. 

"It was an extraordinary year in many ways," said John L. Hennessy, Stanford's president. With the recent completion of the university's campus arts district, he noted, "Stanford has become a destination for scholars and museum-goers, with world-renowned art available to the public for free."

Hennessy also emphasized that gifts toward the ongoing construction of two new hospitals will enable the university to better serve patients and advance medical research. In addition, philanthropic gifts are critical to the university's expanded undergraduate financial aid policy. "Today more than three-quarters of our undergraduates leave Stanford with no student loans," he said.

"We are deeply grateful to the alumni, parents and friends who have made these achievements possible."

Annual funds across campus raised a record $84.4 million in unrestricted support. This includes The Stanford Fund for Undergraduate Education, which raised $26.6 million toward financial aid, academic programs and student-led organizations. Annual gifts can be expended in the year they are received to meet areas of greatest need.

Other gifts added approximately $152.3 million to Stanford's endowment. Endowed gifts are invested to support the university in perpetuity. The endowment payout each year is equivalent to about 23 percent of Stanford's annual operating budget. 

The majority of gifts made to the university were under $1,000, with nearly half of all donors making gifts of $100 or less.

"Stanford's base of support continues to expand, with the number of donors increasing for the sixth consecutive year," said Martin Shell, vice president for development. "This reflects the breadth and depth of commitment from our alumni, parents and friends, who are increasingly engaged in the university's mission of expanding knowledge through research and educating the next generation of leaders.  Our fundraising results are an extraordinary endorsement of the university's leadership, especially the visionary guidance of President Hennessy and the incredible work of our faculty."

Funds were raised for key priorities across the university:

• $67.7 million for graduate student fellowships and undergraduate financial aid
• $57.3 million to attract and support faculty
• $321.9 million for research and programs
• $162.7 million for buildings and facilities, including gifts to Humanities House, the first new undergraduate residence hall built on the Stanford campus in 20 years, and renovations to Stanford's Old Chemistry Building, which is being transformed into the Science Teaching and Learning Center
• $140.9 million for Stanford Health Care, including construction of the new Stanford Hospital and other initiatives of the Campaign for Stanford Medicine
• $60.2 million for the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

The totals reflect gifts and pledge payments between Sept. 1, 2014, and Aug. 31, 2015; they do not include pledges of future support or government grants. Gifts were raised by the Office of Development and the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health.

Media Contact

Lisa Lapin, University Communications: (650) 725-8396, lapin@stanford.edu

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