Giving to Science

College of Science “Giving Wish List”

We count on alumni and friends of the College to help move the College forward. 

Private support is essential in reaching the College’s strategic goals for excellence in discovery, teaching and learning, and engagement. The state of Indiana continues to provide a portion (less than 25%) of the dollars the College and Purdue require to maintain and grow programs for students and faculty.  The rest of the funds needed come from student tuition, grants, and gifts from individuals, companies, and agencies.

We welcome your contribution and invite you to look over the College “giving wish list” particularly the top 3 funding priorities:

The Structural Biology Building Campaign—Purdue is committed to moving its renowned Structural Biologists from the basement of Lilly Hall into  a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art facility in Discovery Park.   The price tag is $32.9 million, all raised from private sources.

Support for faculty—the College’s quest for excellence will be led by the faculty we attract and retain. To bring the brightest scientists and researchers to Purdue requires endowed professorships, competitive compensation, upgraded lab and facilities infrastructure, and support for research assistants.

Support for graduate and undergraduate students—the great science discoveries and leaders of the future will emanate from today’s Science students.  To enroll the best from an academically strong and diverse potential student pool, the College must be able to offer competitive scholarships.

Choose a program or area in the College of Science you would most like to support :

• Facilities

Structural Biology

Other facilities projects

• Renovation of classroom and laboratory space is urgently needed in Lilly Hall, the Physics Building, and Wetherill Hall. Your contribution for facilities renovation will help the College compete for the very best faculty and students.

• Science Dean's Fund for Excellence

  Gifts to the Dean’s Fund for Excellence are used at the Dean’s discretion to provide critical funding for a variety of needs and opportunities throughout the College.

• Faculty Support

  Gifts to the Dean’s Fund for Excellence are:

  • Named Distinguished Professorships: Minimum endowment $2M
  • Named Professorships: Minimum endowment $1M
  • Named Young Faculty Scholar Fund: Annual minimum gift of $40,000 for 4 years
  • Named Faculty Development Fund: Annual minimum of $12,500 for 4 years
  • Start Up funds for new faculty
  • Awards for Excellence in Teaching
  • Curriculum revision and expansion

  Giving ideas:

  • Named Lectureship: A minimum of $250,000 is suggested. The annual proceeds from this endowment will be used to pay for honoraria, publicity, and the expenses of a member of the faculty or a visiting lecturer from another institution or organization to present a lecture on the campus.
  • Named Laboratory: A gift minimum of $200,000 is suggested. The annual earnings from the endowment will be used for equipment, technology enhancements, and research.
  • Named Classroom: A gift minimum of $250,000 is suggested. The annual earnings will be used for equipment, technology enhancement, refurbishment, and modernization.
  • Named Research Fund: A minimum gift of $100,000 is suggested, to be used for research in the area chosen by the donor and Purdue University.
  • Named Faculty Development Fund: A minimum gift of $250,000, or a minimum annual gift or pledge payment of $12,500, is suggested to enhance a faculty member’s teaching and research activities.

• Support for Students

  Giving to students provides essential scholarship support for both current and incoming students. Gifts to this fund help make possible the academic success of students and allow the College of Science to recruit and retain the best students—students who will choose other highly-ranked schools that offer more funding.

  Your contributions can also support:

  • Science Research Endowment Summer Stipend for Undergrads
  • Science Fellowships
  • Named Student Award Fund: minimum of $20,000 or annual $1,000 for 4 years

  Giving ideas:

  • Undergraduate Students:
    • Named Student Enhancement Fund: A minimum gift of $20,000 is required for a fund to assist student activities within a department or school for professional meetings, enrichment activities, and leadership training.
    • Named Undergraduate Scholarship: A minimum gift of $20,000 is required for a named scholarship.

  • Graduate Students:
    • Named Fellowship: A fellowship recognizes outstanding graduate students and allows them to concentrate on a course of study or research. Three ways to name a fellowship:
      • Minimum endowment of $1 million; or
      • Minimum four-year commitment of $160,000 ($40,000 annually); or
      • Minimum annual commitment of $40,000.
    • Named Graduate Scholar: A graduate scholar fund provides annual support for graduate students pursuing a course of study or research. Funds are used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment. Three ways to establish a named graduate scholar:
      • Minimum endowment of $25,000; or
      • Minimum four-year commitment of $4,000 ($1,000 annually); or
      • Minimum annual commitment of $1,000.

• Programs

  Gifts to the Dean’s Fund for Excellence are:

  • Science Minority Programs, including Scholarships and Bridge program
  • Science Outreach K-12
  • Study Abroad Endowment
  • Women in Science

  Giving ideas:

  • Named Book Fund: A minimum gift of $25,000 is required. The income from an endowed book fund may be used for the purchase of books or other materials in a specified field. It may also be used, to the extent not needed for purchases, for preservation of books. It may be used for repair, cataloging, and other expenses of the library.
  • Science Diversity Office: Annual gifts of $1,000 or more to support programs for multicultural student and for graduate and undergraduate women in Science.
  • Faculty and Staff Awards: Honor a faculty member or former major professor, or establish a performance merit award for a College staff member. Contact Mary Jo Bartolacci mbartolacci@purdue.edu for more information.