Find answers to frequently asked questions below. If you don’t see what you need, please feel free to reach out to us at dayofgiving@stanford.edu.
Questions about Day of Giving
What is Stanford Day of Giving?
Stanford Day of Giving is a university-wide celebration of philanthropy. It’s an opportunity for our entire community to come together, give back, and make a difference both on our campus and in the world.
When is Stanford Day of Giving?
Day of Giving will run from 5 a.m. (PT) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to 5 p.m. (PT) on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Why May 14?
May 14 is one of the most important dates in Stanford’s history. Three years after Leland Stanford, Jr.’s passing, the cornerstone of the university was laid by Senator and Mrs. Leland Stanford to honor their son’s 19th birthday. The cornerstone is on the mathematics building, next door and to the west of Memorial Church.
How can I help?
There are lots of ways to help spread the word about and participate in Stanford Day of Giving. Please visit the Get Involved page for details.
Questions about being an ambassador
What is a Day of Giving Ambassador?
This is a short-term volunteer opportunity anyone can sign up for! Select a group you’d like to promote, and you’ll receive a unique giving link to share with your networks. Please visit the Get Involved page for details.
Do I get anything for participating?
Yes! All ambassadors will receive an exclusive Day of Giving tote bag, and every ambassador who brings in at least one gift via their ambassador giving link will be entered into our drawing for two Director’s Level tickets and field passes for a football game of their choice at Stanford Stadium in fall 2026.
What should I do if I lose my ambassador link?
Please reach out to the Stanford Day of Giving Ambassador team at ambassadors@stanford.edu, and we can re-send you your link.
Can I be an ambassador for more than one campaign during Day of Giving?
Yes! You can sign up more than once and select different groups to support on the Get Involved page. If you appear on the ambassador leaderboard multiple times, your results will be added together for the ambassador challenge.
Which gifts count toward the ambassador leaderboard?
Only gifts made through the Day of Giving website will appear on the ambassador leaderboard.
How does the ambassador challenge work?
Gifts that are made through the Day of Giving website by your contacts using your unique ambassador giving link during Day of Giving—between 5 a.m. (PT) on May 13 and 5 p.m. (PT) on May 14—will be tallied next to your name on the ambassador leaderboard.
The top three ambassadors who bring in the greatest number of gifts will unlock additional dollars for a fund of their choice. First place unlocks $25,000, second place unlocks $15,000, and third place unlocks $10,000! First place will also receive two Director’s Level tickets to a football game of their choice at Stanford Stadium in fall 2026!
What happened to the match?
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Stanford community, our Day of Giving matching fund for individual gifts has been exhausted. But our school and unit challenges are still going strong! Help the cause(s) you care about secure additional matching funds by making a gift before Day of Giving ends at 5:00 p.m. (PT).
Why should I give on Day of Giving?
This is our largest day of community giving ever! Let’s show how one Day of Giving can lead to countless possibilities!
Which parts of the university are participating?
The Stanford Fund
Stanford Athletics
Graduate School of Business
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Graduate School of Education
School of Engineering
School of Humanities and Sciences
Stanford Law School
Stanford Medicine
Stanford Arts
Centers for Equity, Community, and Leadership
And a number of centers, institutes, and other areas
Questions about making a gift
How can I make a gift?
The easiest way to make your Day of Giving gift and secure matching dollars is to give online or via telephone by calling our gift processing team at (650) 725-4360.
Can I give via check?
Yes! To ensure your gift via check is counted, please contact our team at dayofgiving@stanford.edu with the gift amount and designation during the giving day period.
Checks should be made payable to “The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University” or “Stanford University” and mailed to:
Stanford University
P.O. Box 20466
Stanford, CA
94309-0466
Will my recurring gift or automatic payment count?
Yes! Although you will not be able to set up recurring gifts or automatic payments through the Day of Giving platform, you can still set up a recurring donation or automatic payment via our standard gift form (give.stanford.edu).
Can I make a gift via donor-advised fund (DAF)?
Yes! Simply select the “DAFpay | Donor-Advised Fund” button as your payment option when you make your gift.
DAFpay allows you to securely log in to your donor-advised fund account without leaving the giving form.
I can’t find the fund I want to make a gift to. What should I do?
There may be more options! Please visit give.stanford.edu to find additional funds or write in the fund you would like to support. You can also make your gift over the phone by contacting our gift processing team at (650) 725-4360.
Can I make a gift by stock, securities, or wire transfer?
Yes!
Stocks and other securities transfers: Donors must email stockgifts@stanford.edu or call (650) 721-1917 with the gift details (number of shares, security description, ticker symbol, and designation) during the giving day period.
Wire transfer: Donors must email wire_transfers@lists.stanford.edu with the gift amount and designation during the giving day period.
I already made a gift to Stanford this year. If I make another gift May 14–15, will it count?
Thank you for your continued support! Yes, gifts initiated during Day of Giving will count toward Day of Giving totals, even if you’ve already made a gift this year.
Will my pledge payment count?
Yes, but any matching or challenge dollars will not draw down your pledge total(s).
Questions about specific gift designations
Will my gift to Stanford Athletics be tax-deductible?
Yes, philanthropic gifts to the Buck/Cardinal Club or sport improvement funds are 100 percent tax-deductible. However, donations made during Stanford Day of Giving will not count towards football or men’s basketball priority seating requirements.
Will my contribution to the Buck/Cardinal Club be eligible for benefits?
Yes, any gift made to the Buck/Cardinal Club during Stanford Day of Giving is eligible for benefits. However, gifts made to a specific sport are not eligible for Buck/Cardinal Club benefits.
Will my membership gift for the Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Collection be matched?
Only the tax-deductible portion of your membership gift will be matched, up to $5,000. For gifts over $1,000, the tax-deductible amount can be found here.
Will my membership gift for Stanford Live be matched?
Only the tax-deductible portion of your membership gift will be matched, up to $5,000. For gifts over $7,500, the tax-deductible amount can be found here by reviewing the fair market value of membership benefits.