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AROUND THE QUADS

College Fund Enjoys Record Year

Thanks to the generosity of College alumni, parents, students and friends, the Columbia College Fund raised $11.8 million in the 2006–07 academic year, compared with just more than $8 million only five years ago. This upward trend in financial support for the College is paired with a continuing increase in the number of alumni donors.

The Class of 2007 set a record with 84.5 percent of its members participating in the class gift, compared with 52 percent in 2002. The Parents Fund also exceeded its goal this year, raising $1.2 million compared with $743,000 five years ago.

The development staff, led by Executive Director of the College Fund Susan L. Birnbaum, worked with Fund Chair Mark Amsterdam ’66 and Fund Development Chair Geoffrey J. Colvin ’74 to achieve this result. The Alumni Association, the Board of Visitors, the Class Agents and the dedicated staff of the Alumni Affairs and Development office, under the leadership of Dean Derek Wittner ’65 and Chief Administrative Officer Susan Mescher, also were instrumental in the fund’s success.

Unrestricted annual giving is a vital ingredient in Columbia’s success, providing current and immediately usable funds for the College’s many operations. The largest such application of unrestricted annual giving is financial aid, preserving need-blind admissions and full-need financial aid. Annual giving also bolsters the student services and activities that enhance the quality of undergraduate life and fortifies and enhances the Core Curriculum.

The University officially launched a $4 billion capital campaign in fall 2006 and already has raised more than $2.2 billion in gifts and pledges. On September 8, The Columbia Campaign for Undergraduate Education was unveiled, with a goal of $865 million to be devoted to financial aid, faculty chairs and improvements in student services. Gifts to the Columbia College Fund count toward the capital campaign.

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