It's one thing to say that higher education changes lives, communities, states and even nations. It's quite another to see it happening. As this report shows, the philanthropic support given across the California State University throughout 2023-24 boosted the life-changing impact of the 23 universities of the CSU in myriad and profound ways.
Students and faculty continued to benefit from the ongoing generosity of donors --donations that have been transformed into new educational and research spaces and equipment, internship opportunities, expanded academic access, and support for underserved students and those in need of basic services such as food, housing and transportation.
YOUR SYSTEMWIDE IMPACT
Clearly, the stories and values of the CSU resonate powerfully with our donors. In fiscal year 2023-24, the CSU received over $626 million in gift commitments --the third-largest total for systemwide gift commitments. The year also saw almost $448 million in gift receipts. Across the system and beyond, the impact of these gifts is felt and appreciated.
OUR DONORS SHARE THE CSU'S VALUES
Among the most important parts of the CSU's mission is the commitment to advance and extend knowledge, learning and culture, especially throughout California. We are charged with providing intellectual, personal and professional opportunities to prepare significant numbers of educated, responsible people. Critical, too, is ensuring our universities provide access to an excellent education.
There's no doubt that these values are shared by our donors, as reflected in the scope and size of their gifts over the past year. They themselves have experienced the transformative change of education on individuals, families and communities. In fact, as this report shows, social mobility --the ability to improve a person's life situation compared to that of their parents -- is a recurring theme. Many gifts focus on expanding access to the high-quality, affordable education offered by the CSU.
Important, too, to our donors is innovation. They know that the CSU is a leader in shaping a wide range of industries and professions, from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to agriculture, education and nursing. Their donations will continue to support cutting-edge research and elevate opportunities in the classroom. Perhaps most important, their philanthropy fuels the success of more students. With donors' critical help, the CSU's ability to prepare globally minded, civically engaged students is increased manyfold. Not only do students benefit from this support in their post-graduate life and career, but our democracy is the better for it. We hear time and again that the CSU's commitment to the success of our students and the state of California is a core reason why donors continue to make our universities the grateful recipient of their generosity.
THE TANGIBLE IMPACT OF DONOR SUPPORT
The report that follows shows the real, lived impact of donors' giving: The pathways created for the success of first-generation students. The assistance provided to student research and discovery in science. The fuel behind artistic expression and scholarly endeavor. The holistic support to ensure students are able to function at their best physically and psychologically, not just academically. These gifts, and many others beyond, continue to move our students ahead, expanding the proud legacy and promise of the California State University to remain the nation's largest and most ethnically and economically diverse public four-year university system.
GIFTS RECEIVED
The California State University system quantifies philanthropic productivity with two concurrent measures: gift commitments and charitable gift receipts.
Gift commitments are an accrual measure that represents new gifts, as well as commitments through multiyear pledges and support promised from testamentary provisions in wills, trusts and beneficiary designations.
Charitable gift receipts are a cash measure that represents all gift income received in the form of cash, securities, in-kind contributions, irrevocable future commitments and private charitable grants.
Donors' generosity in the 2023-24 fiscal year resulted in almost $448 million in gift receipts. Of that, 99% was designated by donors toward specific programs or areas, with only 1% --about $4.7 million --being unrestricted. Donor-designated support of almost $294 million for current programs included:
- $92 million for faculty support and academic enrichment;
- $42.5 million for student scholarships;
- $29.8 million for athletics;
- $17 million for academic research;
- $5.6 million for student affairs and student life, supporting a wide range of co-curricular programming that promotes community service, student leadership and career development, among other areas; and
- $107 million for additional university priorities.
For long-term and capital projects, the CSU received $58 million that supplements other funding for building projects and enhances educational spaces with elements such as cutting-edge technology, lab equipment and studios.
CSU endowments, which provide support in perpetuity, grew by $87 million in new donor contributions. In 2023-24, endowments distributed $87 million to fund areas across the university system.
Donors committed an additional $3.3 million in irrevocable deferred gifts, through vehicles such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.
The categories for gifts received are mutually exclusive and represent in general terms the many programs, projects and initiatives that our donors' generosity --often concurrently --support.