Columbia College noticed donations at its annual fundraiser drop practically 29% after the spate of anti-Israel protests on campus earlier this yr.
The annual “Giving Day” occasion introduced in $21.4 million in 2024, in comparison with $30 million in 2022, the final time the occasion was held, based on campus newspaper Columbia Spectator. Giving Day was postponed in 2023 as a result of Oct. 7 Hamas assault and the following protests.
The Ivy League college additionally noticed a virtually 28% drop within the variety of presents, falling from 19,229 in 2022 to 13,870, the bottom since 2015, the paper mentioned.
Columbia is coping with a “donor disaster — born out of considerations concerning campus protests,” based on the Spectator.
The variety of presents climbed for 10 straight years earlier than this yr’s plummet.
Essentially the most cash got here from the athletics division, which raised $4.6 million, a report for the division. Columbia School, which had been within the high spot for 11 years in a row, dropped to second, elevating $3.5 million. The College of Engineering and Utilized Science got here in third place, elevating $3.2 million.
“Columbia is lucky to have a devoted group of alumni, dad and mom and pals who acknowledge the impression their monetary donations, volunteer time, skills, recommendation and mentoring make in aiding college students and supporting the mission of the college and its faculties,” a Columbia spokesperson mentioned. “Their participation and assist is ongoing and sincerely appreciated, they usually proceed to make sure the continued success of the college.”
The varsity has confronted criticism for its mishandling of the demonstrations.
Anti-Israel protests resumed in September because the 2024-2025 college yr commenced.
Columbia was one of many Ivy faculties to be investigated by the Division of Training for civil rights violations below Title VI in December.
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