To put it simply, Stanford wants to change the world.
Seeking to bring together the University’s resources to attack what President John Hennessy called “the century’s most pressing global challenges,” Stanford in October launched a five-year, $4.3 billion fund-raising campaign.
“The scope and complexity of social and scientific challenges has grown immensely in recent decades,” Hennessy said. “I believe Stanford is uniquely prepared among universities—by its breadth of scholarship, entrepreneurial heritage and pioneering faculty—to provide research and real-world approaches to address many of these issues.”
Called The Stanford Challenge, the fundraising effort targets three main areas:
- $1.4 billion for multidisciplinary research: in human health, to speed the conversion of significant medical discoveries from the lab to the clinic; in environmental sustainability, assisting scholars in finding ways to balance human needs with protecting the Earth’s resources; and in international peace and security, addressing economic, social, religious and political problems that threaten well-being worldwide.
- $1.2 billion for education initiatives. The University is increasing its commitment to improving K-12 education and plans a broad renewal of graduate programs, further enhancements to undergraduate teaching, and a new emphasis on the arts. Some of the funds will go toward increasing financial aid—including extending need-based scholarships to international undergraduate students—and loan repayment assistance for graduate students who work in public service occupations.
- $1.7 billion in core support to sustain broad strength in teaching and research.
“The Stanford Challenge is the most forward- and outward-looking campaign in Stanford’s history,” said Board of Trustees chair Burt McMurtry, MS ’59, PhD ’62.
Early gifts to the campaign total almost $2.19 billion. “We are fortunate to have loyal alumni and friends who share this vision about the role of Stanford in helping address some of these critical issues,” Hennessy said.
