Support the Social Sciences
Through our innovative approaches to both research and education, the Social Sciences Division at UC Santa Cruz is uniquely well-positioned to produce tangible benefits for our society. Yet social sciences scholarship remains chronically underfunded worldwide, creating financial barriers to the transformative work we want to pursue.
The support that donors provide for our programs creates significant positive impact on our campus, in our broader community, and around the world. With your help, we’re nurturing the next generation of forward-thinking leaders and producing transformative research that advances social and environmental impact.
Our work is made possible by the generosity of individuals like you, who believe in the power of the social sciences to drive positive change. Explore the opportunities below to find what resonates with your passions. If you need help making a contribution, have questions, or want to learn more about our newest research and programs or upcoming initiatives, don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated philanthropy team.
Philanthropy team
Johan Lode Rubens
- Title
- Executive Director of Development
- Phone
- 831-459-5870
- Campus Email
Linda Marie Hunt
- Title
- Development Administrative Manager, Library & Social Sciences
- Phone
- 831-502-7552
- Campus Email
Giving opportunities
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Latin American and Latino Studies Department
Your gift will support transformative research and mentorship, including guiding first-generation students through academic and career planning.
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Sociology
Your gift will support the Sociology Department as it prepares students to engage in the study of social groups, institutional structures and social interaction.
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Economics
Your gift will support the Economics Department as it prepares students to engage with the broad range of issues studied by economists and the tools they use.
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Legal Studies Program
Your gift will support an interdisciplinary program that uses varying methods and perspectives to study legal issues and uses the conceptual framework of the law to illuminate other disciplines.
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Education
Your gift will support the Education Department as it prepares students to engage in educational theory, research, and practice to serve an increasingly diverse society.
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Psychology
Your gift will support the Psychology Department as it pushes forward research in our three subfields and educates the next generation of scientists with a passion for solving real-world issues.
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Institute for Social Transformation
Your gift supports the Institute for Social Transformation, which serves as the Social Sciences Division’s central research and funding hub, empowering students, staff, faculty, and community partners in carrying out…
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Lionel Cantú Memorial Award
Your gift supports graduate students working in the areas of immigration studies, transnational/cross-border studies, Latino/Latina sociology, gender and sexuality, or gay men and masculinity.
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Environmental Studies
Your gift will support the Environmental Studies Department as it prepares students to engage in the environmental challenges facing society with an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines ecology and the social…
Donors making a difference
Breaking the cycle of poverty by supporting student success
MR Macgill and her husband Ho Nam are on a coast-to-coast philanthropic quest to alleviate poverty by strategically investing in college success for first-generation students. Those efforts led them to UC Santa Cruz’s Social Sciences Division, where they found a natural fit with their goals and have since supported the Everett Program and the Transforming Futures program.
Continuing a family legacy of social justice activism
Annette Marines was among the first donors to a crowdfunding campaign for the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas. Marines’ family has long worked alongside Huerta in her social justice advocacy. Marines believes the center and its work will help Latino students feel a sense of belonging and will inspire all students to make a difference in their communities.
Investing in breakthroughs on high-impact issues
Alumnus Steve Bruce has always valued the education he got in UC Santa Cruz’s Social Sciences Division, and now, after a successful career, he enjoys giving back. Over the years, Bruce has supported innovative research in the social sciences through initiatives like the Center for Integrated Water Research and the Center for Analytical Finance.