The Stanford Athletic Department is in the process of providing full operating budgets to all 35 varsity sports.  These budgets will include all of the components necessary for our programs to compete at the Division I level.  Because of this, none of Stanford’s varsity sports will be required to fundraise for their basic operating budgets effective fiscal year 2008 (Sept. 1, 2007).

These new budgets will be funded in large part by a more robust Buck/Cardinal Club, enabling our head coaches and their staffs to focus their time and energy on coaching and recruiting instead of fundraising for basic operating budgets.  Donors who give to the new Buck/Cardinal Club annual giving program will receive benefits commensurate with their generosity.

Instead of receiving solicitations from individual sports, donors will now receive a single solicitation from the Buck/Cardinal Club.  By giving a gift to the Buck/Cardinal Club, donors will give their favorite sport(s), and all of Stanford’s varsity sports, the budget resources they need.  Donors to the Buck/Cardinal Club will also have the opportunity to let us know which sports are their favorites at the time of the donation, and those sports will keep in touch with donors who specify interest in their specific program.

Donors who prefer to give to a single sport can do so by supporting an event (golf tournament, auction, etc.) that will generate revenue for a specific sport’s one-time project (foreign tour, equipment purchase, etc.).  Donors can also give a gift directly to a sport, and that gift will be used to help offset that sport’s budget in the year of the gift (these gifts are independent of the benefits program).

If you have questions about the new Buck/Cardinal Club program, please call (650) 724-9081.  To view a record of your Stanford giving online, please visit givingtostanford.stanford.edu.