LSE Benefactors

The impact of philanthropy on LSE

LSE's motto "rerum cognoscere causas" means "to know the causes of things". It was chosen to support the School's founding purpose, "for the betterment of society".

LSE's founders were social reformers Beatrice and Sidney Webb, Graham Wallas and dramatist George Bernard Shaw. In 1894, our founders decided to use a £20,000 bequest to open a specialist higher education institution. The first students arrived at LSE in October 1895.

Since that initial gift, private philanthropy has remained a strong tradition at the School powering research and enabling outstanding students to come to LSE through scholarship gifts.

Transformational gifts from LSE Benefactors

The gifts from our Benefactors throughout our history have been transformational and as a gesture of our gratitude we are honoured to present those donors with a plaque to recognise the impact of their exceptional support. The plaque portrays the stained-glass window designed by LSE Founder George Bernard Shaw in 1910 as a commemoration of the Fabian Society. Known as the Fabian Window, it depicts society members helping to build “the new world”. The Fabian Society gifted the original window to LSE in 2006, and it is now installed in the School’s Shaw Library.

A few of our donors receiving Fabian Windows

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Honouring LSE Benefactors

Past, current and future generations of LSE students and staff are indebted to these individuals and organisations whose contributions have significantly shaped its development and progress.

The names below are listed on our Benefactors’ Board, situated in the lobby entrance of the Old Building. The Board recognises those recent Benefactors who have provided transformational gifts to LSE, and whose level of generosity has defined the tradition of philanthropy at the School.