Buoyed by a robust stock market, contributions to U.S. colleges and universities in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022 totaled $59.5 billion, a $6.6 billion increase (12.5 percent) from $52.9 billion the previous year, an annual survey published by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) finds.

Based on responses from 826 institutions of higher education, the 65th annual report, CASE Insights on Voluntary Support of Education (United States): 2022 Key Findings (VSE) (14 pages, PDF), found that corporations and foundations accounted for $31.85 billion in dollars raised (an increase of $4.65 billion, representing 61.3 percent of all giving), while alumni contributed $13.5 billion (an increase of $1.25 billion) and non-alumni individuals contributed $9.5 billion (an increase of $700 million). The report noted a change in the survey allowing for contributions from DAFs to be reported separately and likely leading to more modest growth in foundation and corporate giving; however, the report did not provide detailed data on foundation, corporate, or DAF contributions.

In 2022, there were seven gifts of at least $100 million totaling $1.08 billion (a decrease from $1.46 billion in 2021). These gifts accounted for 1.8 percent of total support, a share that has declined from 4.4 percent since 2019. The 20 institutions that received the most contributions took in a total of $15.72 billion (26.4 percent of total giving—a share that has remained broadly consistent over the past decade).

This year, the VSE included a new question to capture the total number of gifts; among the 217 respondents providing that data, 13,165 gifts totaling $81.76 million were identified. Among responding institutions, 5.1 percent of all donors gave more than $5,000 but accounted for 95 percent of total contributions.

“These data are evidence that higher education institutions matter. Donors support these institutions, whose work plays a crucial role in transforming communities and society,” said CASE president Sue Cunningham. “The results…underscore the value placed on higher education institutions and their mission to prepare generations of students and alumni to lead productive lives.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Vladimir Vladimirov)