Columbia University faced a sharp decline in donations at its annual “Giving Day” fundraiser, with contributions dropping by nearly 29% in 2024 compared to the last event in 2022.
This year’s fundraiser brought in $21.4 million, a significant decrease from the $30 million raised two years ago, according to the Columbia Spectator. The event, originally scheduled for 2023, was postponed following the October 7 Hamas attack and the ensuing anti-Israel protests that spread across the campus.
The university also saw a nearly 28% decrease in the number of gifts received, falling from 19,229 in 2022 to 13,870 in 2024 – marking the lowest number of donations since 2015 and halted a decade-long trend of rising contributions. According to the outlet, the sharp decline was driven by what some are calling a “donor crisis,” with many alumni and supporters concerned about how the administration handled the campus protests.
Despite the overall drop in donations, certain departments saw strong fundraising results. The athletics department raised a record $4.6 million, surpassing all other divisions. Columbia College, which had held the top spot in fundraising for 11 consecutive years, came in second with $3.5 million, while the School of Engineering and Applied Science raised $3.2 million.
“Columbia is fortunate to have a dedicated community of alumni, parents, and friends who recognize the impact their financial donations, volunteer time, talents, advice, and mentoring make in assisting students and supporting the mission of the university and its schools,” a university spokesperson said in a statement.
Anti-Israel protests resumed in September with the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, further straining the university’s relationship with its donors. In December, Columbia, along with several other Ivy League schools, became the subject of a Department of Education investigation into potential civil rights violations under Title VI.
