What is Annual Giving?
Annual giving is just that: gifts to the college that are made annually and spent within one fiscal year. St. Olaf College's fiscal year runs June 1- May 31.
Gifts to the annual fund are unrestricted, meaning that they are used where the need is greatest.
What are examples of what Partners gifts help fund?
- Library books
- Campus signage
- Musical instruments
- Athletic equiptment
- Financial aid and scholarships
Does every gift matter?
Yes! Last year, 50 percent of all St. Olaf alumni donors made a gift between $1 and $100. With more than 9,700 Oles participating, each of these contributions had an important impact.
All gifts to Partners in Annual Giving -- regardless of size -- are a statement of support for the St. Olaf mission.
How are gifts to Partners used?
For every dollar received:
$.44 Instruction, international studies scholarships.
$.22 Financial aid; academic scholarships.
$.15 Institutional overhead, maintenance.
$.11 Academic support; libraries; computer labs.
$.08 Augmenting student life.
We invite you to make a commitment today to this important endeavor!
What is Partners in Annual Giving?
A philanthropic tradition began at St. Olaf in 1874, when Rev. Bernt Julius Muus gathered a small group of men and women willing to sacrifice goods and energies in order to found an institution dedicated to promoting higher learning in the context of Christian faith.
Since then, alumni, parents, and friends have established a tradition of giving their own resources to help provide the St. Olaf experience for others.
In 1991, the college began a formal giving program which concentrated solely on annual gifts to the college. The program was named Partners in Annual Giving because people who make gifts are considered partners in this important mission.
