CASE Insights on College and University Foundations

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar, led by Meg Natter, Deborah Trumbull, and Rosa Una, presented key findings from CASE's 2025 research on college and university foundations, including philanthropy and fundraising trends. Data from the Voluntary Supportive Education survey, representing 670 US institutions and about 80% of total higher education funds received, showed an overall increase in funds received and new funds committed in 2025 compared to 2024. However, fewer donors contributed, with 2% giving 89% of funds, and alumni donors declining, especially younger alumni. Bequests reached record highs, contributing significantly to personal giving. Funds designated for current operations increased, while capital giving declined slightly.<br /><br />The College and University Foundation survey, completed by 29 foundations mainly from research doctoral institutions with large endowments, revealed that most funding comes from endowment fees and cash flow. Institutions with larger endowments rely more on these while smaller ones depend more on gift fees. Salary and benefits comprised nearly 70% of expenses for larger foundations. Key challenges included market volatility, institutional spending demands, leadership changes, and technological shifts like AI integration.<br /><br />The presentation emphasized the value of benchmarking and peer networking for interpreting data and improving fundraising strategies. The survey will reopen in late 2025 on a new platform designed to streamline participation and improve data quality. Additional reports and webinars are planned to share upcoming CASE insights.

Keywords

CASE 2025 research

college foundations

university foundations

philanthropy trends

fundraising trends

Voluntary Supportive Education survey

endowment fees

donor demographics

benchmarking and peer networking