What is the senior gift?
Every year, Stanford asks members of the Senior Class to make a small donation before they graduate. While it does not raise significant funds, the Senior Gift participation rate is a key metric of support for the university’s administration.
Why should I withhold my senior gift?
The choice to withhold the Senior Gift sends a powerful message to our University that we will not stand by while Stanford continues to profit from the operations of fossil fuel companies. The Senior Gift is a symbolic action; to donate is to express corroboration with Stanford’s operations. We are choosing to withhold our Senior Gifts because we are passionate about seeing a Stanford where our investments align with our values.
We invite you to join us in withholding your Senior Gift to express your dissatisfaction with Stanford’s continued investment in fossil fuels. Stanford continues to profit from investments in the operations of fossil fuel companies. These ongoing investments are driving climate change and environmental injustice. As the Class of 2016, by collectively withholding our Senior Gifts, we can craft a legacy whose impacts reach far beyond our Stanford Community.
Why divestment?
By continuing to maintain a vested interest in the fossil fuel industry, we retain responsibility for a shifting world order, where rising sea levels, drought, climate refugees, and food insecurity are becoming commonplace. More than 3,200 students, faculty, alumni, and community members have expressed their support and 75% of the Stanford undergraduate student body voted in favor of fossil fuel divestment. More than 390 Stanford faculty have co-signed a letter calling on the administration to divest. The Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU), the body representing undergraduate students, and the Graduate Student Council have both passed resolutions in support of fossil fuel divestment. There is overwhelming support of divestment. It is past time for the university administration to act on the consensus of its community.
To read more, check out “The Case For Divestment,” which we presented to Stanford’s Board of Trustees last year.
What if I want to give back to Stanford?
We acknowledge that Stanford is an incredibly important force in our lives, and that without The Stanford Fund, our community would lack the vitality, diversity and opportunities we experience every day. Many of us greatly look forward to donating to a university that is not invested in fossil fuels - hopefully, that will be before the end of our senior year! We promise to notify you as soon as Stanford divests, and we encourage you to then donate if you so choose.
Will withholding my senior pledge influence financial aid?
The Senior Gift giving campaign’s primary aim is to achieve a high participation rate, not to raise significant capital. Relative to the almost $1 billion that Stanford fundraises annually, your $5 or $10 contribution will insignificantly contribute to financial aid. We believe raising your voice for fossil fuel divestment by withholding your Senior Gift will do far more to make Stanford better for future generations of its students.
I'm not a senior. Can I sign too?
Absolutely! While we certainly hope Stanford will have divested from fossil fuels well before you are a senior, the Board of Trustees needs to know that they can’t wait us out. This movement is not going away.
I'm an alum. Can I pledge to withhold donations too?
Yes! Check out our alumni campaign and sign the pledge.
Can I still sign the pledge if I want to donate to specific parts of the Stanford community? (ie. community centers, etc.)
Unfortunately, no, signing this pledge is a commitment to withholding all future donations to Stanford, which includes community centers. While we would love to have your support for this campaign, we respect your decision to donate to programs or communities at Stanford that are especially meaningful to you. However, even if you choose not to sign the pledge for this reason, we still encourage you to withhold your Senior Gift (such as by giving directly to community centers) to make it clear which parts of Stanford you support.
How do I pledge?
Click right here!
Every year, Stanford asks members of the Senior Class to make a small donation before they graduate. While it does not raise significant funds, the Senior Gift participation rate is a key metric of support for the university’s administration.
Why should I withhold my senior gift?
The choice to withhold the Senior Gift sends a powerful message to our University that we will not stand by while Stanford continues to profit from the operations of fossil fuel companies. The Senior Gift is a symbolic action; to donate is to express corroboration with Stanford’s operations. We are choosing to withhold our Senior Gifts because we are passionate about seeing a Stanford where our investments align with our values.
We invite you to join us in withholding your Senior Gift to express your dissatisfaction with Stanford’s continued investment in fossil fuels. Stanford continues to profit from investments in the operations of fossil fuel companies. These ongoing investments are driving climate change and environmental injustice. As the Class of 2016, by collectively withholding our Senior Gifts, we can craft a legacy whose impacts reach far beyond our Stanford Community.
Why divestment?
By continuing to maintain a vested interest in the fossil fuel industry, we retain responsibility for a shifting world order, where rising sea levels, drought, climate refugees, and food insecurity are becoming commonplace. More than 3,200 students, faculty, alumni, and community members have expressed their support and 75% of the Stanford undergraduate student body voted in favor of fossil fuel divestment. More than 390 Stanford faculty have co-signed a letter calling on the administration to divest. The Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU), the body representing undergraduate students, and the Graduate Student Council have both passed resolutions in support of fossil fuel divestment. There is overwhelming support of divestment. It is past time for the university administration to act on the consensus of its community.
To read more, check out “The Case For Divestment,” which we presented to Stanford’s Board of Trustees last year.
What if I want to give back to Stanford?
We acknowledge that Stanford is an incredibly important force in our lives, and that without The Stanford Fund, our community would lack the vitality, diversity and opportunities we experience every day. Many of us greatly look forward to donating to a university that is not invested in fossil fuels - hopefully, that will be before the end of our senior year! We promise to notify you as soon as Stanford divests, and we encourage you to then donate if you so choose.
Will withholding my senior pledge influence financial aid?
The Senior Gift giving campaign’s primary aim is to achieve a high participation rate, not to raise significant capital. Relative to the almost $1 billion that Stanford fundraises annually, your $5 or $10 contribution will insignificantly contribute to financial aid. We believe raising your voice for fossil fuel divestment by withholding your Senior Gift will do far more to make Stanford better for future generations of its students.
I'm not a senior. Can I sign too?
Absolutely! While we certainly hope Stanford will have divested from fossil fuels well before you are a senior, the Board of Trustees needs to know that they can’t wait us out. This movement is not going away.
I'm an alum. Can I pledge to withhold donations too?
Yes! Check out our alumni campaign and sign the pledge.
Can I still sign the pledge if I want to donate to specific parts of the Stanford community? (ie. community centers, etc.)
Unfortunately, no, signing this pledge is a commitment to withholding all future donations to Stanford, which includes community centers. While we would love to have your support for this campaign, we respect your decision to donate to programs or communities at Stanford that are especially meaningful to you. However, even if you choose not to sign the pledge for this reason, we still encourage you to withhold your Senior Gift (such as by giving directly to community centers) to make it clear which parts of Stanford you support.
How do I pledge?
Click right here!
Still have questions? Have a question that this FAQ doesn't answer? Shoot us an email: [email protected]
