In the US, donating to your alma mater is the most usual thing in the world. But here, too, thousands of Leiden alumni donate funds to teaching and research at their University. Thanks to their support, scientists and academics are able to work on pioneering research in the areas of health, security, sustainability and other societal themes, and talented students and young researchers have the chance to achieve their ambitions.

The Leiden University Fund has awarded two grants for research in the field of legal history. This funding will support projects on tombstone protection and limitation of maritime liability, conducted by PhD candidates Eva Drommel and Tim Lubbers.

Resistance to antibiotics is a major problem in health care. Thanks to a joint grant from the Elise Mathilde Fund and Leiden University Fund (LUF), supported by alumni donations, pharmacologist dr. Coen van Hasselt can look for new dosing schedules to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance.

Misleading graphs, the erosion of democracy and the weakening of bones as a side-effect of medication. Researchers are starting work on these very topical problems, funded by subsidies from the Leiden University Fund (LUF), and the Praesidium Libertatis I Foundation, awarded on Monday 12 October.

Thanks to the donations from Leiden alumni and others involved, Leiden University Fund has been contributing to remarkable science at Leiden University for more than 125 years. Thanks to donors, innovative research and educational projects are made possible every year, for which otherwise there is no financial capacity.

We collect the stories of our donors and publish them in, among other things, the LUF newsletter and the alumni magazine Leidraad. All interviews can be found on this page. They paint a picture of the diversity in background of our donors and the different motivations for becoming a donor.

Ten thousand children in the Netherlands are removed from their homes each year, but are rarely involved in this drastic decision. In her research, Anouk Goemans, Professor of Youth Services and Child Protection, wants to find practical solutions that give children a voice.

Are you looking for financing for your project or research? Who knows, crowdfunding might be the way for you to realise your plans. Crowdfunding is a relatively new way to finance projects.

Studying is about more than collecting study credits. The study years often fly by, but they are filled of opportunities to work on your self-development. LUF is there for students with big dreams and good ideas.