Philanthropy enables life-changing opportunities for students and supports transformative research initiatives at Imperial.

More than £91 million was donated to Imperial during the 2023/24 financial year – the most ever to have been given in a single year. This transformational amount will support groundbreaking research initiatives, state-of-the-art facilities, and a range of scholarships, fellowships and academic posts. 

In March, Imperial launched its new Strategy, Science for Humanity, and with it, the mission to maximise its potential as a force for good in the world. From enabling talent, powering research and amplifying impact, philanthropy will play a critical role in realising the full extent of this ambition.

Over £66.5 million was donated to support research priorities, enabling new advances on global challenges such as climate change, public health and economic growth. Initiatives supported by philanthropic gifts made during the 2023/24 financial year include:

• The launch of the Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance, funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation for £29 million. The Centre is bringing together experts on science, engineering, economics and technology to come up with globally competitive strategies to improve the competitiveness of the UK economy and drive sustainable economic growth.
• A £24 million gift from the Bezos Earth Fund launched the new Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, aimed at protecting food security with minimal impact on biodiversity, climate and the natural world. The Centre is working toward the development of innovative food alternatives that are sustainable, nutritious, affordable and appetising.
• A gift of £10 million from philanthropist Dr Victor Dahdaleh will propel Imperial’s lung and heart research by creating the Dr Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Graduate Centre for Respiratory and Cardiac Sciences at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) and supporting the refurbishment of the Dr Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Building – a new home for world-changing lung research at Imperial’s Hammersmith Hospital Campus.

Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: "The support Imperial has received this year is truly transformative, and we’re only able to celebrate such a milestone achievement because of the incredible generosity of our community.

"Philanthropy has a remarkable impact at Imperial, and every single gift has played a part in enabling us to be a world-leading institution and a force for good in the world. It opens a path for talented students all over the world to reach their potential, creates opportunities for our academics to explore groundbreaking research and provides them with the resources and facilities needed to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges.

"I speak on behalf of the entire Imperial community when I say that we are profoundly grateful to all those who have chosen to give in this way. You are shaping the future for our students, our community, our planet and humanity."

Opening doors for the brightest students

Thank you for making this dream a reality and for believing in the power of research to change lives. Beatrice Ope President's PhD Scholar

Philanthropic gifts also went towards supporting students by providing them with lifechanging scholarships and opportunities to pursue their academic dreams, with over £11 million dedicated to student support, scholarships, education initiatives and prizes. Philanthropic support for students during the last financial year included:

• A gift from the Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation launched Imperial’s new Tsotsorkov Scholarship, giving undergraduate students with a connection to Bulgaria the opportunity to receive quality education and flourish in their pursuits at the heart of London.
• A new scholarship programme for Lebanese Master’s students which will support 18 scholars from Lebanon to receive an Imperial education over the next three years, made possible thanks to a generous gift from the CMA CGM Group.

Philanthropic support also helped to fund the prestigious President’s PhD Scholarship, which is awarded to exceptional doctoral candidates. Public Health student Beatrice shared how the scholarship allowed her to enjoy an Imperial education and conduct critical research on maternal healthcare within Nigeria: “Receiving the President’s PhD Scholarship has not only allowed me to attend such a prestigious institution as Imperial, but it has also made my important research possible. Thank you for making this dream a reality and for believing in the power of research to change lives.”

Philanthropy plays a crucial role in student success at Imperial, alleviating financial worries and empowering students to make the most out of their university experience. Scholarships will also contribute to Imperial’s goal to create the most diverse and talented student body, supporting the brightest minds, no matter their financial background or where they are from in the world to reach their full potential and become the next generation of global leaders.

Celebrating impact across the Imperial community

Imperial received huge support from the alumni community, with more than 80% of donors being alumni this year. Alumni also donated their time and knowledge, with over 1,200 alumni volunteers supporting student engagement activities, recruitment and outreach. Alumni volunteered over 13,200 hours of their time collectively, highlighting the ongoing connection that the alumni community has with Imperial long past graduation.

This immensely successful year was made possible thanks to the collective support of the Imperial community, from the generosity of donors and alumni to the hard work and contribution from academic and professional staff. As Imperial embarks on the exciting mission to expand its potential to tackle some of world’s most pressing problems, philanthropy becomes the key to unlock the power of science to serve humanity.