The Don Bassett Memorial Fund was established in November 1965 by the contributions of fellow students, faculty members, administrative and technical staff of Health Sciences departments, and friends and members of the Bassett family. The purpose of the fund is to express the friendship and affection with which Don was regarded by all who knew him and to recognize the dedication and industry with which he pursued the study of microbiology from his high school days until his death at the age of 20 in his third year at the University of Washington.

The fund provides an annual grant to a worthy junior in the field of microbiology whose studies would be assisted by the award.