Stanford - billion dollar gift

[Anonymous]

Not chump change:
https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/04/john-doerr-gives-1-1-billion-to-stanford-for-new-climate-school-largest-gift-in-stanford-history/

[Anonymous]

For a climate and sustainability school! Super cool. although it’s sad that he can give away a billion dollars and still have a ton leftover. The inequity in this country is insane.

[Anonymous]

Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

True. That would also be great. But this donor is way better than centibillionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos who sit on their billions and just spend them on buying super yachts and hurtling themselves into space

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

If you care about climate change, the worst thing that you can do is rise more people to the upper middle class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

Amen -- from a Stanford grad, spouse of grad, and parent of grad -- and that's exactly why I don't give any $ to Stanford

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

I'm all for your suggestion in supporting scholarships, but if your goal is to have a direct impact on climate/sustainability progress - funding a new school at Stanford seems like a good move to me. Their track record for innovation is impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

Amen -- from a Stanford grad, spouse of grad, and parent of grad -- and that's exactly why I don't give any $ to Stanford

You know you can earmark your donations to go only to scholarships, right? Not that you need to do that at Stanford (but why not?)...

For example - we direct all donations to our graduate school go directly to the department we studied in. The school funded all of our graduate tuition and provided paid jobs.
Earmarking the money to them means the university is required to add it to the department budget. This allows the department to funnel it to programs that support current graduate students.

We also choose specific places for our undergrad donations to be directed. Never to the university as a whole.

We know the $ gets where we intended it to because those departments write us separately to thank us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

I hate comments like this and here is why: There are tons of posts on other boards (like the money one) asking how much people donate, how much rich people donate, etc. The answers are meaningless because there are still judgments coming: not enough, not to the right cause, etc. People give what they give, to where they want. I am guessing no matter where someone donates to, there are "more deserving charities" in others' minds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

I hate comments like this and here is why: There are tons of posts on other boards (like the money one) asking how much people donate, how much rich people donate, etc. The answers are meaningless because there are still judgments coming: not enough, not to the right cause, etc. People give what they give, to where they want. I am guessing no matter where someone donates to, there are "more deserving charities" in others' minds.

I agree. And the conclusion often is-“that’s the reason I don’t donate more than $500/year. There are no deserving charities.” It becomes an excuse to be stingy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

Amen -- from a Stanford grad, spouse of grad, and parent of grad -- and that's exactly why I don't give any $ to Stanford

You know you can earmark your donations to go only to scholarships, right? Not that you need to do that at Stanford (but why not?)...

For example - we direct all donations to our graduate school go directly to the department we studied in. The school funded all of our graduate tuition and provided paid jobs.
Earmarking the money to them means the university is required to add it to the department budget. This allows the department to funnel it to programs that support current graduate students.

We also choose specific places for our undergrad donations to be directed. Never to the university as a whole.

We know the $ gets where we intended it to because those departments write us separately to thank us.

Yes, you can earmark, or you can simply choose to give to other organizations that have a greater need and do greater good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

Amen -- from a Stanford grad, spouse of grad, and parent of grad -- and that's exactly why I don't give any $ to Stanford

You know you can earmark your donations to go only to scholarships, right? Not that you need to do that at Stanford (but why not?)...

For example - we direct all donations to our graduate school go directly to the department we studied in. The school funded all of our graduate tuition and provided paid jobs.
Earmarking the money to them means the university is required to add it to the department budget. This allows the department to funnel it to programs that support current graduate students.

We also choose specific places for our undergrad donations to be directed. Never to the university as a whole.

We know the $ gets where we intended it to because those departments write us separately to thank us.

Yes, you can earmark, or you can simply choose to give to other organizations that have a greater need and do greater good.

Agreed - not saying you can't or shouldn't (that's why I said "Not that you have to do that at Stanford"). Just letting you (& others) know that it is possible to earmark university donations to make sure the money goes to very specific locations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree, PP. And to a school that really doesn't need it. How about taking a billion dollars and starting scholarships for poor, but capable students to get college degrees?

Amen -- from a Stanford grad, spouse of grad, and parent of grad -- and that's exactly why I don't give any $ to Stanford

You know you can earmark your donations to go only to scholarships, right? Not that you need to do that at Stanford (but why not?)...

For example - we direct all donations to our graduate school go directly to the department we studied in. The school funded all of our graduate tuition and provided paid jobs.
Earmarking the money to them means the university is required to add it to the department budget. This allows the department to funnel it to programs that support current graduate students.

We also choose specific places for our undergrad donations to be directed. Never to the university as a whole.

We know the $ gets where we intended it to because those departments write us separately to thank us.

Yes, you can earmark, or you can simply choose to give to other organizations that have a greater need and do greater good.

PS - for decades, I gave nothing to my undergrad school (where I was full pay) in order to double down on the graduate school department (full ride).

[Anonymous]

This guy is buying admission for a couple generations of his progeny. The school definitely does NOT need the money. But his great grandkids will all get to be Cardinals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This guy is buying admission for a couple generations of his progeny. The school definitely does NOT need the money. But his great grandkids will all get to be Cardinals.

I understand your skepticism... but be honest, this is an entirely new program so how is it bad to have outside funding?

And from his side - where else would you recommend he donate $ if his intention is to fund meaningful innovation/research on climate change/sustainability?