How can I give to Cambridge through the Philanthropy homepage?

Updated

You can give to Cambridge through philanthropy.cam.ac.uk by starting from the featured priorities on the homepage and using the "Give now" links attached to specific causes. The homepage is the University of Cambridge's philanthropy hub: it presents current fundraising priorities, news about the impact of past gifts, and entry points to donate. It is best used as a starting point — you pick the cause you care about, then follow that cause's giving route.

What you can give to from the homepage

The homepage highlights a set of featured priorities, each with its own "Give now" or "Read more" action:

Priority What it supports
Cambridge Children's Hospital A hospital project intended to transform the lives of young people regionally, nationally and globally
Student support Ensuring students with the potential to excel have a chance to study at Cambridge and its Colleges
Rokos School of Government Preparing tomorrow's leaders to tackle the world's biggest challenges
AI research Interdisciplinary collaboration on urgent, complex challenges
Climate and nature research Regenerating nature, rewiring energy, redefining economics, rethinking transport
Cancer research Diagnosis, management and treatment, building on Cambridge's record of Nobel Prizes in Medicine and Chemistry
Sport at Cambridge A sustainable sporting environment for students of all backgrounds and interests

Some priorities (Cambridge Children's Hospital, student support, the Rokos School of Government) carry a "Give now" link directly on the homepage. Others are presented with "Read more", which takes you to the fuller case for that cause — the giving route sits within that cause's page.

How to make a gift

  1. Choose your cause. Scan the featured priorities and open the one closest to what you want to support. If nothing on the homepage fits, use the main navigation to look for other areas of the University.
  2. Read the case. The priority page explains what the funding is for and why it matters. This is where you confirm the gift goes where you intend.
  3. Select "Give now". This is the donation entry point for that priority. The homepage itself does not state accepted payment methods, currency, or whether a login is required — expect to confirm those details on the giving page itself.
  4. Complete the gift on the linked giving page and keep any confirmation for your records.

Reading the impact before you decide

The homepage's news section shows what previous philanthropy has actually done, which is useful if you want evidence before committing:

  • The Robert Perrin legacy gift for outreach in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy has given nearly 200 children hands-on experience of the field.
  • "Artists for Kettle's Yard" brought together artists, alumni and supporters to raise more than £1 million for the gallery, exceeding its original £750,000 target.
  • The Gillings legacy — the Lady Mireille & Sir Dennis Gillings Global Public Health Fellowships, run with the University of Cambridge and Institut Pasteur — has supported public health leaders for ten years.
  • Beryl and Michael Saich's legacy gift addressed the need for postgraduate funding for climate solutions research.

These are examples of named gifts and their outcomes, not a menu of donation amounts. They are most useful for judging which area of Cambridge you want your own gift to reach.

Practical points to check on the giving page

  • Where the money goes. Each priority page defines its purpose; confirm it matches your intent before giving.
  • One-off vs. regular giving, and legacy giving. The homepage features legacy gifts prominently, so if you are considering leaving a gift in your will rather than giving now, that route exists — but the mechanics are handled on the relevant page, not the homepage.
  • Restrictions and recognition. Whether a gift can be directed to a specific department, college or fellowship, and how donors are acknowledged, is set out at the cause level.

Common sticking points

  • The homepage is a hub, not a checkout. Don't expect a single universal donation form covering everything; giving is organised by priority.
  • "Read more" is not "Give now". Some priorities only offer a deeper read on the homepage — the donation step comes after you open the cause.
  • Payment and login details aren't on the homepage. Check them on the giving page before you start, so you aren't surprised mid-process.

If your goal is simply to support Cambridge and you have no strong preference, start with student support or one of the research priorities — these are framed as broad, ongoing needs. If you have a specific connection (a department, a college, a cause), go directly to that area through the site navigation instead.