A Gift in Perpetuity

The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) offers many opportunities to contribute to existing endowments, or establish new named endowed funds with a gift of $100,000 or more.¹

The Leadership Award (TLA)

Leadership Award named endowments begin at $100,000.

Since 1934, The Leadership Award has recognized and supported UC Berkeley’s student leaders through merit-based scholarships. Leadership Award Scholars are acknowledged for their outstanding, innovative, and motivational leadership in their academic, work, and community environments.

Approximately 650 new and continuing students receive one-year scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each year. With more than 20,000 Leadership Scholars since its inception, The Leadership Award is the largest and oldest non-academic merit scholarship on campus.

The Achievement Award Program (TAAP)

Achievement Award Program endowments begin at $250,000.

Since 1999, The Achievement Award Program has provided more than 470 high-achieving students in financial need with the resources to attend and excel at UC Berkeley. TAAP supports the university’s growing commitment to attracting a diverse pool of incoming freshmen and junior transfer students who might not otherwise have the resources to attend college.

The eligibility criteria for TAAP include California residency, a 3.0 GPA, and an emphasis on community service and leadership. TAAP Scholars receive a financial award of $6,000 annually for up to four years, student-support services from Alumni Scholars Program staff, and an Apple MacBook Air upon matriculation.

The Achievement Award Program – Diversity Scholarship (TAAP-DS)

Your support of the TAAP Diversity Scholarship Program helps to increase diversity on the UC Berkeley campus. The program supports low-income, underrepresented minority students who have been admitted to Cal as an incoming freshman or junior college transfer. Each year, CAA awards between one and five incoming first-year and junior transfers with $6,000 per year (for four years or two years, respectively) and a laptop. Due to California Proposition 209, all TAAP – Diversity Scholarship funding is directly administered by CAA. To establish an endowment $250,000 is required, but current use gifts can be used to fund individual scholars year to year. To donate please fill out our printable donation form and check the “TAAP-Diversity Scholarship” box on the form.

The African American Initiative

Funded by the San Francisco Foundation and in partnership with UC Berkeley and the Cal Alumni Association, the African American Initiative (AAI) Scholarship provides African American students with financial support to help make their Cal education more accessible. The program is available for incoming first-year Black, African, and African American students who receive $8000 for up to five academic years. Students also receive supportive programming through the African American Student Development Office (AASD), are automatically registered to live on the Afro-floor during their first year on campus, and receive academic counseling through the AASD Office. Scholarship funding for the African American Initiative Scholarship is housed at the San Francisco Foundation. Find more information about how to donate.