Support
The Stanford Humanities Center relies heavily on unrestricted gifts from individual donors and charitable organizations to support and promote research in historical, philosophical, literary, and artistic fields, as well as interdisciplinary work between the humanities and other areas such as environmental studies, law, and the social sciences.
Current Funding Priorities
Humanities Center Annual Fund
Of primary importance are gifts to the Annual Fund, which enable the Center to pursue its goal of vitalizing the humanities at Stanford and beyond. They provide unrestricted support and secure the Center’s ability to respond in a timely fashion to emerging ideas and needs within the humanities. Annual gifts can be made online to support the Center. Some examples of initiatives and activities your annual gift will help sustain include:
• Undergraduate fellowships for seniors writing their theses
• Supplemental funding for graduate and external faculty stipends
• Manuscript review workshops for untenured, assistant professors
• Student journalism projects that highlight the humanities at Stanford
• Cross-campus collaborations and eventsDirector’s Fund: Gifts of $10,000 and Above
The Center seeks annual gifts at the $10,000 level and above to provide a source of ongoing support. Established in 2015, this fund allows the director the discretion to pursue ambitious new initiatives in support of innovation in the humanities; to sustain and strengthen core programs; and to respond in a timely way to unforeseen financial needs in general support of the Humanities Center. Donors to this fund are supporting the long-term mission of the Center, and become members of the Director’s Circle.
International Visitors Program
The International Visitors Program is designed to strengthen Stanford’s global connections in the humanities and social sciences by bringing renowned public intellectuals, scholars, and political leaders to Stanford for short-term, high-impact residencies. These visitors establish fruitful, cross-cultural connections with faculty and students by leading sections in Stanford undergraduate and graduate classes, giving lectures and presentations in their areas of expertise, and carrying out joint research projects with Stanford colleagues.
Gift opportunities:
• A pledge of $20,000 a year for three years will name an international visitor each year
• Gifts of $10,000 will fund the stipend of one international visitor
• Gifts of $5,000 will fund housing or travel expenses for one international visitor
• Gifts of any amount will provide essential programmatic supportAnnual Fund
The Humanities Center's Annual Fund is intended to vitalize humanities research and forward the most urgent needs and initiatives of the Center. Gifts to this fund are indispensable to enabling the Center to bring the humanities into contact with other fields such as the arts and the environment, and to provide opportunities to promote discussion about the role of the humanities in our contemporary world. Some examples of the kinds of initiatives and programs a gift to the Annual Fund will help to sustain are:
• Undergraduate fellowships for seniors writing their theses
• Funding for graduate and external faculty stipends
• Manuscript review workshops for untenured, assistant professors
• Student journalism projects that highlight the humanities at Stanford
• Cross-campus collaborations and eventsDirector’s Fund: Gifts of $10,000 and Above
The Center seeks annual gifts at the $10,000 level and above to provide a source of ongoing support. Established in 2015, this fund allows the director the discretion to pursue ambitious new initiatives in support of innovation in the humanities; to sustain and strengthen core programs; and to respond in a timely way to unforeseen financial needs in general support of the Humanities Center. Donors to this fund are supporting the long-term mission of the Center, and become members of the Director’s Circle.Ways to Give
Fulfilling the Center's mission would not be possible without the participation of friends and fellows. Your gifts to the Stanford Humanities Center sustain a community passionate about ideas and engaged in the fundamental task of understanding what it means to be human.
Please keep in mind that there are many ways to support the Center, many of which do not involve making an immediate cash gift. For example, you might consider writing the Humanities Center into your estate plans, making a pledge, transferring stock, or donating an honorarium. We welcome gifts at all levels—every dollar counts!
Make a one-time or recurring gift online
To make a one-time or recurring gift online, please visit: http://pgnet.stanford.edu/goto/HumanitiesCenterGift
Make a gift by check
Checks should be made out to "Stanford University" and mailed to: Stanford Humanities Center, 424 Santa Teresa Street, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4015.
Donate Your honorarium
Fellows, former directors, workshop coordinators, Stanford humanities faculty, or anyone else wanting to support the Center, may designate fees received for giving lectures, reviewing manuscripts, serving on selection committees, etc., as a donation to the Center. For further information, please contact Susan Sebbard at sebbard@stanford.edu or 650-723-3053.
Make a pledge
A pledge is a formal statement of intention to make a gift in support of the Center. A pledge allows you to stage payments over time and complete the gift on the schedule that is best for you.
Transfer stock sales
Transferring stock to the Center allows you to support the humanities while realizing tax benefits. A gift of appreciated stock is deductible from your income tax and you avoid the capital gains tax that would result from selling the stock.
Matching gifts
Many employers match charitable gifts made by their employees. Find out if your employer matches charitable contributions, and ask them for a matching gift form to send in with your gift.
Planned Giving & Bequests
Since its founding, the Stanford Humanities Center has built a community passionately engaged in the fundamental task of understanding what it means to be human. A bequest allows you to realize your philanthropic goals and guarantee the vitality of this dynamic community for future generations.
The Center is grateful to those donors who invest in the Center's programs and people year after year. These annual gifts offer core support for the Center's mission and allow the Center to respond to emerging needs and priorities.
If you have any questions about giving to the Humanities Center, please contact Assistant Director Susan Sebbard at 650.723.3053 or send an email to sebbard@stanford.edu.
What is a bequest?
Simply put, a bequest is a gift from your estate. You can make a bequest in your will or living trust by designating an exact dollar amount or a percentage of your estate. Or you might consider naming the Stanford Humanities Center as a beneficiary in your retirement plan or life insurance policy.
A bequest is free from federal estate taxes and income taxes. By planning now, you can designate your assets for charitable use and ensure that the Stanford Humanities Center continues to enrich our understanding of human history and cultures for generations to come.
What other planned giving options do I have?
Life income gifts are another planned giving option that provide for you now and the Humanities Center later. They also offer significant tax advantages. Charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, and pooled income funds, are some examples of such gifts.
When you establish a life income gift, you irrevocably transfer cash, securities, or other property to Stanford. The university then manages the investment of the assets and pays an income to you or your beneficiaries for life. Thereafter, the remaining assets from your gift go to support the Stanford Humanities Center.
How do I make a bequest?
Making a bequest to the Stanford Humanities Center is easy. You may create a new will or living trust, add a codicil to your present will, or amend your present trust instrument. To ensure that your exact intentions are implemented in harmony with the rest of your estate plan, estate planning documents should be prepared in consultation with your attorney.
If you are planning a simple bequest to the Stanford Humanities Center, the following language can be used:
I hereby give ______________ to THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, an educational institution. This gift shall be fully expendable and shall be used to support the Stanford Humanities Center.
Who do I contact about making a bequest?
If you are planning a detailed bequest, or if you would like more information about your planned giving options, you may contact Susan Sebbard at 650.723.3053 or sebbard@stanford.edu.
You can also contact Stanford's Office of Planned Giving directly at 800.227.8977, ext. 54358, or planned.giving@stanford.edu. Stanford's team of planned giving experts can help you with everything from simple bequests to gifts of retirement plan assets, life insurance, real property, appreciated securities, and the complete range of life income gifts.
What are the benefits of making a bequest?
• A bequest costs nothing now, but helps to secure the future of the Stanford Humanities Center.
• A bequest is free from federal estate and income taxes.
• A bequest allows you to retain control of your assets during your lifetime and modify your charitable designations should you so choose.
• If you notify the Stanford Humanities Center or the university of your bequest, you will be included as a member in Stanford's Founding Grant Society. It would be our privilege to be able to thank and recognize you now.
