The Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies depends on gifts from donors to enhance academic programs for its students.

Donate

What We Do With Gifts

We use donations from contributors to support a variety of academic projects including the following:

• Symposia and conferences hosted by WGSS
• Supporting WGSS student club gatherings
• Lectures by visiting speakers
• Prizes for distinguished graduate and undergraduate work
• Travel to academic conferences for graduate students

Gift Opportunities

A number of exceptionally generous friends of the Department have created permanent endowments to support specific programs and initiatives. These include:

• Sally Miller Gearhart Fund for Lesbian Studies
• Abbie Jane Bakony Scholarship
• Miller Family Scholarship
• The Bruce M Abrams LGBT Essay Award

The Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies General Fund provides funding to be used at the Department Head’s discretion toward events and activities which benefit each of the Department’s students.

The University of Oregon and the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies is pleased to announce a new fund for lesbian studies which will advance lesbian history and culture, promote dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, support diversity and empower a lesbian voice in higher education.

The Sally Miller Gearhart Fund has been made possible by a challenge gift of $25,000 from Carla Blumberg, long-time friend of Gearhart and fan of WGSS at the UO. To date, we’ve raised $15,000 to meet Carla’s challenge. Carla’s challenge gift was matched with an additional $25,000 from many private donors to create a permanent endowment and provide a lasting voice for lesbian studies in higher education in Oregon. Carla has also pledged to include the university in her will to one day create the Sally Miller Gearhart Professorship in Lesbian Studies. Carla’s commitment will position UO as one of the few universities in the country with such a dedication to sexuality scholarship. Sally and Carla tell their story of the Gearhart Fund in a 2009 article in Oregon Outlook.

Of course, the opportunity for more fellowships, prizes, and programs is always present, limited only by the imaginations and resources of our faculty and friends. We hope you will consider helping us change the lives of UO Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies students by offering them the finest and most diverse educational opportunities possible.

Offline Donations

You can also contact the University of Oregon Foundation office directly:

University of Oregon Foundation

1720 E. 13th Avenue, Suite 410
Eugene OR 97401-3273
Phone: (541) 302-0300
Fax: (541) 344-8079

Please include a note with your gift if you would like your gift to support a specific activity and we will see that your donation is placed in the appropriate fund.

If you would like to discuss the department’s long-range plans and ambitions, please contact the Department Head.

Thank you for your generous support!