# What Colleges Need From Donors

> Donors can help colleges survive funding cuts and student debt crises.
- Title: What Colleges Need From Donors · The Conversation | Shortify
- Summary: Donors can help colleges survive funding cuts and student debt crises. colleges, universities, donors · reported by The Conversation.
- Keywords: colleges, universities, donors, philanthropy, funding, student debt, endowments, higher education, science, ideas, Need, The Conversation
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/what-colleges-and-universities-need-from-donors-to-thrive-283427
- Author: Genevieve Shaker
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: colleges, universities, donors, philanthropy, funding, student debt, endowments, higher education, science, ideas
## Harvard's 1638 donation
Harvard University received £779 from John Harvard in 1638, equivalent to $2 million today.
## Current funding cuts
Trump administration cuts research funding, student aid, and international student visas since 2025.
## College closures
Sixteen colleges closed in 2025, including Martin University and Sterling College.
## Acquisitions
At least 40 colleges acquired by other schools since 2020, including Marymount Manhattan College.
## 2025 donor contributions
Donors contributed $79 billion to colleges in 2025, up 4% from 2024.
## Richest donors dominate
89% of 2025 college funds came from 2% of donors, including Phil and Penny Knight.
## Record gifts in 2026
Ken Griffin gave Carnegie Mellon $3 billion in 2026, breaking the Knight record.
## Specific gift examples
Michael and Susan Dell gave University of Texas $750 million for medical center in 2026.
## Unrestricted gifts
Unrestricted gifts to colleges dropped below 7% in 2024 but rose slightly in 2025.
## Pooling donations
Saving Sweet Briar campaign raised $2 million from $1.50 gifts to keep the college open.
## Unrestricted funds help
Brandeis University uses unrestricted gifts to cover research shortfalls at Cornell University.
## Student affordability
Donors can cover transportation and textbooks to help students graduate.
## Key takeaway

Donors can help colleges survive funding cuts and student debt crises by pooling gifts, giving unrestricted funds, and covering student expenses.