Endowed gifts provide a permanent source of funds for research and education that benefits the School of Engineering in perpetuity. Attracting, nurturing and rewarding faculty is at the heart of endowed faculty funds, and is one of the highest priorities of the School. Endowed professorships are the most significant awards bestowed upon tenured faculty. Stanford encourages corporations to develop strong, ongoing relationships with chairholders. The corporation and the distinguished scholar who holds the professorship share the prestige associated with an endowed chair.
Corporations frequently donate funds to support the research of individual faculty members.
Expendable gifts to support graduate students can be targeted toward students in specific departments. Sponsored Research Projects Companies often contract for research to be carried out at Stanford to take advantage of unique facilities at the School of Engineering and to engage faculty and students in research issues which will impact the future of the industry. Sponsored projects typically include specific deliverables outlined in a statement of work, a budget, and terms for the disposition of resulting tangible and intangible property.