By the Numbers
More people – alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, champions, supporters and friends – gave to the California State University in 2015-2016 than at any other point in our six-decade history.
This year, the CSU reached an all-time high of 242,000 individual donors, an annual increase of nearly 11,000 over the prior year. The increase was energized by our growing network of 3.3 million alumni which collectively reaffirmed its commitment to the values and vision of the university. An additional 5,500 alumni made gifts to the CSU in 2015-2016 compared to the prior year.
The increase in individual donors powered gift commitments to the CSU and its 23 campuses, which increased by 22 percent – over $86.7 million – to a record-high of nearly $489 million.
Endowments continue to reinforce the dynamic needs of the CSU community. The total market value of CSU endowments reached $1.4 billion systemwide. These endowments distributed $46 million in 2015-2016 to support student scholarships, research, creative activities and other programs. Donors contributed an additional $64 million to endowments.
A majority of all gifts serve the immediate needs of CSU students, faculty and staff. These gifts provide students from California’s diverse and dynamic communities access to educational opportunity and achievement, facilitate innovative teaching and advisement, and enhance the learning environment and student experience.
In 2015-2016, the CSU received more than $181.4 million in support of these efforts:
- $26.8 million for student scholarships
- $49.2 million for academic enrichment
- $10.5 million for directed research
- $2.1 million for faculty support
- $3.6 million for library resources
- $17.5 million for athletics
- $34.8 million for public service programs
- $1.9 million for facility improvements
- $35.0 million for additional university priorities
Unrestricted support of $10.3 million represents 3.31 percent of all gifts received and is available for high priority needs. Additionally, campuses received $22.3 million in property and capital improvement gifts for facilities and equipment.
Philanthropic support across the CSU provided $53 million in private scholarships to CSU students. Combined with state and federal student aid, 80 percent of the CSU’s nearly 475,000 students receive assistance, reducing financial burdens of college for students and their families.