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Colgate Endowment & Alumni Donor Participation Rates

Compiled by A Better Colgate from data in
U.S. News & World Report 2010 “America’s Best Colleges”

Colgate cites three different numbers for alumni in the Fall 2009 Passion for the Climb brochure.  On page 3, it states that 6,314 of 30,589 alumni were polled.  On page 6 is a statement that 12,052 alumni donors represent a 46% giving rate, which equates to 26,200 alumni. However, if there are 30,589 alumni, the actual giving rate is 39% (closer to the number cited by US News & World Report.). Page 8 reports there are 34,142 living alumni, so the actual giving rate could be as low as 35% - which is 24% lower than the 46% donor giving rate that is being touted.

Alumni Donor Participation Rates at Peer Schools Where Alumni Elect Trustees Amherst College 60% Colby College 47% Colgate University 40%** Dartmouth College 51% Davidson College 54% Hamilton College 48% Haverford College 47% Middlebury 59% Smith College 40% Wellesley College 49% Wesleyan Univeristy 51% Williams College 60% ** Based on ColgateUniv. statistic of 30,589 active alumni

Colgate University Fiscal Year May 31 Value of Endowment annual period (ends June 30) Percent Alumni Participation 1998-1999 435,500,000 50% 1999-2000 451,000,000 52% 2000-2001 462,839,000 49% 2001-2002 455,871,000 47% 2002-2003 419,972,000 55% 2003-2004 459,278,000 55% 2004-2005 502,378,000 53% 2005-2006 558,378,000 50% 2006-2007 706,657,000 49% 2007-2008 729,249,000 46% 2008-2009 560,537,000 * 46%-39%-35% Source: Colgate University audited financial reports

 

Colgate’s endowment has increased only $13 million in real terms (spending power) in seven years, regardless of the $400 million campaign and $300 million reported as received.

Adjusted for inflation, the value of the 2002 endowment of $456M would be increased by a factor of 1.2. (www.usinflationcalculator.com). The present value of the 2002 endowment would be $456M x 1.2 = $548M.  This compares with the value of the 2009 endowment of $561M.  Adjusted for inflation, the endowment has increased by only $13M in the past seven years.