Endowed Athletics Scholarships

The cornerstone of Stanford Athletics

Stanford’s storied history as the Home of Champions is one of the many ways we are unique. So is our unwavering commitment to academic excellence. We take great pride in celebrating our students’ success as they become national champions, Olympians, and scholars, and achieve their goals beyond the Farm. Athletics scholarships are the foundation of our success. Nearly one-quarter of the Athletics Department’s budget supports scholarships, attracting talented student-athletes to Stanford and supporting them as they pursue excellence in competition and in the classroom.

Academic-year scholarships

Stanford student-athletes have what it takes to be both MVPs and CEOs. They are not only champions but also future leaders and engaged citizens.

In the current landscape of college athletics, competition to attract the best and brightest student-athletes is intense. Endowed academic-year scholarships often convince top recruits to play for the Cardinal and empower them to realize their potential as athletes and scholars during their time on the Farm.

As we continue to hold ourselves and our student-athletes to the highest academic and athletic standards, additional investments in the Cardinal’s future are needed now more than ever. The 2025 House v. NCAA settlement increased the number of scholarships that universities can offer. As our peer institutions look to expand their scholarship programs, it is essential that we do the same to deepen our rosters and continue competing at the highest level.

Anna Song, ’29
Endowed scholarship recipient

Matching fund opportunities

Matching funds are key to advancing the Athletic Department’s fundraising goals as we continue to support Stanford student-athletes.

Partial athletics scholarships can be established with a gift of $250,000 or more, and gifts of $1,500,000 or more will endow an academic-year scholarship in its entirety. To meet our athletics scholarship endowment needs and support the Buck/Cardinal Club, the Athletics Department will also leverage the university’s undergraduate financial aid match to maximize the impact of donor support. With a minimum commitment of $500,000 (or $250,000 for recent graduates), a portion of the donor gift will support the Buck/Cardinal Club, triggering the university match, which will be added to the donor’s endowed fund. The following outlines how the donor gift and university match will be leveraged.

Endowed scholarship donors receive an annual stewardship report that may include a letter from their scholarship recipient. Donors also have the opportunity to meet their scholarship recipients.

*This opportunity is for recent graduates, those who are 15 or fewer years out from their undergraduate degree.

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Consider an endowed athletics scholarship

Few things bring the Stanford community together like cheering for the Cardinal. An endowed athletics scholarship is not only an investment in the student-athletes who wear the uniform—it also supports athletics programs that bring thousands of students and alumni together every year to celebrate their shared identity as part of this special community.

Stories:Behind the athlete

Self-awareness, a growth mindset, teamwork, integrity, determination: These are essential qualities of student athletes and inform performance both in the field and classroom field to classroom, and seep into the school's culture. The net result is that they help make Stanford, well, Stanford.