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The Power of Philanthropy

From funding life-changing student scholarships to advancing world-leading research, every gift to Lancaster, big or small, powers the discoveries, ideas and people shaping our future.

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Impact Highlights (2020-2024)

£17.6m

received from our generous donor community. 

£400,000

raised for the Lancaster University Opportunity Fund, ensuring all students, regardless of background, can access a world-class education and thrive. 

52

countries are represented in our global community of supporters. They all share one purpose: advancing Lancaster University's mission and impact. 

£1,000,000

gifted in legacies to Lancaster - a lasting tribute that honours lives and creates enduring impact for the University and future generations. 

Making a Difference Together

Every campaign begins with a simple idea: we can do more together. Discover the projects that are changing lives - and see how your support can make them possible.

The Lancaster University Opportunity Fund

Supporting students from all backgrounds, this fund helps create an inclusive and diverse community at Lancaster University. Your gift removes barriers and empowers students to reach their full potential. 

Donate to The Lancaster University Opportunity Fund
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  • The Ruskin Collection

    Donations to The Ruskin will help preserve Ruskin’s rare works, support research and learning, and ensure his vision continues to inspire generations of students, scholars, and the public. Join us in safeguarding this remarkable legacy for the future.

  • Defying Dementia

    Defying Dementia is a community-led campaign tackling Alzheimer’s disease head-on, supporting research and initiatives that make a difference to patients, families, and society.

  • LUMS Investors in Excellence

    By becoming a LUMS Investor in Excellence, you can support Lancaster University Management School, helping our students and academics thrive. Your contribution funds scholarships, research, and development opportunities, ensuring our community continues to grow, innovate, and make an impact.

  • Lancaster Sanctuary Fellowship

    The Lancaster Sanctuary Fellowship provides vital support to academics who are unable to continue their research or teaching in their home countries due to violence, conflict, or oppression. Your gift helps these scholars continue their work safely at Lancaster University.

  • Leave a Legacy

    By leaving a gift in your will, you can create lasting impact — helping Lancaster students thrive, supporting groundbreaking research, and shaping the University’s future for generations to come.

  • Meet the team

    If you would like to know more about fundraising for Lancaster University or have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact a member of our Philanthropy team!

Support from Overseas

Wherever you are, you can help Lancaster students succeed and advance pioneering research.

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Impact in Action

Discover how support for Lancaster transforms lives and ideas.

A group of students around a table playing a game

Shaping College Life Through Philanthropy

Philanthropic support is a vital lifeline for our Colleges, helping them offer better services and enriching programmes that make a real difference in students’ lives. From refurbished spaces to wellbeing trips, this feature highlights some of the initiatives made possible over the past year thanks to our generous donors.
Ruth Adu-Dwumaa standing outside

Ruth’s Journey with the Master’s Scholarship for Black British Students

Widening participation is central to Lancaster University’s mission to make higher education open, inclusive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve. The Master’s Scholarship for Black British Students supports this by empowering students to reach their potential. We hear from Ruth Adu-Dwumaa, a fourth-year architecture student, about balancing her studies and life, her passion for supporting communities in Ghana, and the transformative impact of her scholarship.
A couple taking a photo of themselves in the street

Shining a Light on Our Incredible Philanthropists

Nick Shaw and Miriam Hill’s generosity was inspired by their son’s transformative experience at Lancaster University - an institution they’re grateful to have discovered during his search for the right place to study. Seeing Lancaster support its students with integrity, innovation, and genuine care during an unprecedented global crisis strengthened their belief in the power of education to change lives. Here, they tell us about what drives their ambition to support students at Lancaster.
Two students sitting on a bench with three students in the background

How Donor Generosity is Fuelling Growth in LUMS

The generosity of our philanthropists is having a profound impact at Lancaster University Management School, fuelling innovation, widening opportunity, supporting student achievement, and honouring the legacy of those who have shaped our community. Thanks to the partnership of our LUMS supporters, we are proud to share highlights of the initiatives, research and stories made possible through philanthropy.
An image inside our ReStore shop

ReStore – Where Sustainability Meets Our Campus Community Life

Providing solutions for students and the Lancaster community to live and shop more sustainably, ReStore has grown from strength to strength over the past two years, fostering a culture of social responsibility. Supported by the generosity of our alumni, ReStore has become a hub of sustainability, partnering with St John’s Hospice as well as colleagues and initiatives across campus.
A female graduate next to a Lancaster University sign

The Power of Support – From Campus to Career

Every gift tells a story — and thanks to donors like you, this one begins with opportunity. Meet Karen Wilkinson, a Mature Student Scholarship recipient, whose journey reflects the life-changing impact of donor support. Since graduating in 2025, her hard work has started to pay off, opening new doors for her future.
Four female scientists inside a laboratory

Alzheimer’s Research UK Funds New PhD Studentship

Dr Shefeeq Theparambil has secured Alzheimer’s Research UK funding for a PhD Studentship at Lancaster University. Here, Dr Theparambil gives us an insight into the invaluable research carried out through this studentship, along with research being carried out through a second PhD project, funded by Defying Dementia and the Faculty of Health and Medicine.
A group of people outside in front of a

Experiencing Dementia First Hand: Defying Dementia Visits the ‘Dementia Bus’

Representatives from Defying Dementia, including Dr Edward Parkin (lead scientist) and Alice Wood (Defying Dementia funded PhD researcher) recently took part in a powerful hands-on training experience designed to deepen understanding of dementia.
A group of people at a presentation holding a large cheque

Community Spirit Shines as Defying Dementia Fundraising Shop Raises Over £100,000 for Dementia Research

The Defying Dementia Fundraising and Community Shop in the heart of Lancaster City Centre has reached an incredible milestone – raising over £100,000 in support of Defying Dementia at Lancaster University.

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Contact Us

By Post

Philanthropy, Alumni and Supporter Engagement
C Floor
University House
Lancaster University
Bailrigg, Lancaster
LA1 4YW
United Kingdom

By Phone

+44 (0)1524 594109

We're here Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm

By Email

friends@lancaster.ac.uk

To contact a member of our team directly, please visit our contact page.

Fundraising Promise

Lancaster University is committed to ensuring that our fundraising is legal, open, honest and respectful.

This can be viewed from our Fundraising Promise and Formal Complaints Process page.