Fund Raisers Predict 5.2% Growth in Gifts to Education This Year

Donations to colleges, universities, and private elementary and secondary schools rose an estimated 5.1 percent in the 2013 fiscal year, and fund-raising professionals expect to see that rate increase to 5.2 percent in 2014, according to a new survey by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

The CASE Fundraising Index, which is compiled twice a year, is based on a survey of 1,800 CASE-member institutions in the United States. The January survey had a response rate of 10.1 percent.

“Survey results indicate that fund raisers are cautiously optimistic for 2014, but obviously they believe there are factors that continue to impact donor confidence,” said John Lippincott, president of CASE. “The good news is that consumer confidence continues to grow, albeit slowly, and many experts predict that the economy is picking up momentum.”

Donations to public higher education rose in 2013 by 5.7 percent. The increase for private higher education was 4.8 percent, and for two-year institutions it was 3.8 percent.

Survey respondents had predicted an average increase of 5.3 percent for 2013. Results of the index since it began, in July 2008, can be found on CASE’s website.