executive summary

Voluntary support of education

Results from the 2024 annual report on findings from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey, the definitive source of data that measures the level of philanthropic support for nonprofit and public higher education institutions in the United States, show philanthropic contributions to U.S. higher education institutions increased by 3 percent when adjusted for inflation. Giving as a percentage of total educational and general expenditures remained stable at 10.2 percent, consistent with long-term trends. Nearly half of all endowed gifts were designated for student financial aid. 

Giving by most sources increased. Foundation giving increased the most, growing 13.3 percent. Alumni, the second largest source of support, gave 7.5 percent more than in 2023. Support from non-alumni individuals increased 4.7 percent. Donor-advised funds, representing 10.6 percent of the total, gave 12.1 percent more. Giving from corporations and the category called “other organizations” declined by 7.3 and 5.5 percent, respectively. 

According to the findings, the 3 percent increase in giving represents $61.50 billion in total reported charitable contributions to the higher education sector.