Private donations play a large role in American higher education. According to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, U.S. colleges and universities raised an estimated $59.5 billion in voluntary support in the 2022 fiscal year, a historically high 12.5 percent increase over the prior year. Alumni gave $13.5 billion, or 22.7 percent of the total, while organizations such as foundations and corporations gave $36.5 billion, or 61.3 percent. About 42.4 percent of gifts went to capital purposes like buildings and endowments, with the rest supporting current operations.
This money matters because it fills gaps that tuition and public funding do not cover. Donations fund scholarships and need-based aid, which help students who could not otherwise afford college. They support research labs, libraries, and new facilities. Endowment gifts provide income year after year, giving schools a stable base for long-term planning.
Philanthropy also shapes access. Large gifts to community colleges and regional public universities can change what those schools offer. Donor-funded scholarships often target first-generation students or specific fields like nursing and teaching, where the need for graduates is high.
Giving is not only for the wealthy. Many schools run annual funds where small gifts add up, and alumni participation rates matter to a school’s reputation. If you want to support education, educational philanthropy takes many forms, from funding a scholarship to mentoring students. Students, meanwhile, can benefit directly by applying for scholarship opportunities, including affordable online master’s programs with scholarships.
