Endowment Gifts Plunge 9.2%: Colleges Grapple with Sharp Drop in Donations Amid Economic Uncertainty

In fiscal year 2025, a concerning trend emerged in the landscape of higher education funding: new gifts to college endowments plummeted by 9.2 percent, dropping to just under $14 billion from the previous year's $15.4 billion. This figure comes from the comprehensive NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, which surveyed 657 U.S. colleges, universities, and affiliated foundations. The decline marks a stark reversal after years of relatively stable or growing philanthropic support, signaling broader economic headwinds buffeting donors and institutions alike.

What exactly are endowment gifts? These are new contributions specifically designated to bolster a college's permanent endowment fund, where the principal is invested to generate ongoing income for scholarships, faculty positions, research, and operations. Unlike one-time operational donations, endowment gifts provide perpetual support, making their downturn particularly alarming for long-term financial planning. The average new gift size fell from $24.8 million to $22.6 million, while the median held steady around $5.2 million, indicating fewer large-scale commitments rather than shrinking individual donations.

This plunge coincides with total endowment assets reaching a record $944.3 billion across participants, up from $873.7 billion in fiscal 2024. However, the growth in assets stems primarily from solid investment returns rather than fresh inflows. Institutions are navigating a precarious balance: robust market performance on one hand, but donor reticence on the other. For prospective students and faculty eyeing opportunities in higher education, understanding this shift is crucial, as it influences tuition affordability, program offerings, and even job stability in academia.

NACUBO-Commonfund Study: Key Data Breakdown 📊

The annual NACUBO-Commonfund Study offers the most authoritative snapshot of higher education endowments, capturing data from nearly 660 institutions representing a wide spectrum—from small liberal arts colleges to Ivy League giants. In FY2025, new gifts totaled $13.99 billion, a precise 9.2 percent decline year-over-year. Smaller endowments bore the brunt, with those under $50 million in assets experiencing a 26.5 percent drop, underscoring their vulnerability to fluctuating donor sentiment.

Delving deeper, the study reveals nuances in gift patterns. While overall numbers dipped, certain categories like planned gifts or bequests may have provided some buffer, though not enough to offset the trend. Total distributions from endowments surged to $33.4 billion, an 11 percent increase, highlighting how colleges are leaning harder on existing funds to cover 15.2 percent of their operating budgets—up from 14 percent the prior year.

Asset growth was driven by a 10.9 percent average one-year return, slightly off from 11.2 percent in FY2024 but above the new 10-year average of 7.7 percent. Larger endowments over $5 billion (30 institutions holding 58 percent of total value) outperformed at 11.8 percent. These figures paint a picture of resilience in investments but fragility in philanthropy, prompting administrators to rethink fundraising amid uncertainty.

• Total new gifts: $13.99 billion (-9.2% YoY)
• Average gift: $22.6 million
• Distributions: $33.4 billion (+11% YoY)
• Endowment funding for ops: 15.2%

Endowment Investment Performance Holds Steady Amid Volatility

Despite the donation slump, endowment portfolios delivered commendable results in FY2025. The aggregate 10.9 percent net return reflected strength across asset classes: global equities around 17 percent, fixed income posting its best year in ages, and alternatives contributing steadily. Equities dominated at 86 percent of allocations (31.5 percent public, 54.5 percent private/alternatives), with fixed income at 11 percent.

Harvard University retained its perch with over $55 billion in assets, followed by Yale ($44.1 billion), Stanford ($40.8 billion), and Princeton ($36.4 billion). These elite funds, heavy in private equity (16.8 percent average) and venture capital (12.2 percent), exemplify the Yale Model's enduring influence—diversification into illiquid assets for superior long-term gains.

Smaller institutions, however, allocated less to high-risk alternatives (12.5 percent for under $50 million), sticking to safer public equities and bonds. This conservative approach yielded slightly lower returns but preserved capital during prior downturns. Nearly half of spending (47.4 percent) supported student financial aid, 17.7 percent academic programs and research, and 10.8 percent faculty chairs—demonstrating endowments' pivotal role in mission fulfillment.

Colleges ramped up endowment withdrawals to $33.4 billion in FY2025, the highest ever recorded in the study. This 11 percent jump reflects mounting pressures: stagnant state funding, enrollment plateaus, and federal grant disruptions. Endowments now cover 15.2 percent of operations, with the effective spending rate ticking up to 4.9 percent.

For context, spending policies typically follow a 'total return' approach, blending income and prudent principal draws to sustain purchasing power against inflation. Experts caution against over-reliance, as it risks eroding future generations' inheritance. Yet, in tough times, boards approve higher rates to safeguard jobs and programs.

Unpacking the Causes: Economic Pressures Squeeze Donors

Several interconnected factors drove the 9.2 percent decline in new endowment gifts. Persistent inflation eroded household wealth, while elevated interest rates curbed stock market enthusiasm, hitting high-net-worth donors' portfolios. The Federal Reserve's rate hikes through mid-2025 aimed to tame inflation but cooled asset appreciation, prompting philanthropists to hold cash.

Policy shifts added uncertainty: a new endowment excise tax (up to 8 percent per student for large funds) kicks in 2026, potentially taxing billions from top schools like Yale (facing $300 million annually). Political polarization, including scrutiny over campus DEI initiatives and free speech, alienated some conservative donors. Enrollment declines—down amid demographic cliffs and affordability woes—signaled institutional weakness to prospects.

Donor fatigue post-pandemic, coupled with competing causes like disaster relief and political campaigns, diverted funds. Smaller colleges felt this acutely, lacking the brand pull of elites. Economic caution and 'donor fatigue' were frequently cited, per industry analyses.NACUBO's full report details these trends.

Uneven Impacts: Small Colleges Hit Hardest

The gift drop disproportionately burdens smaller institutions. Endowments under $50 million saw a 26.5 percent plunge, exacerbating budget shortfalls. These schools, often tuition-dependent, fund less than 10 percent of ops via endowments versus 20-30 percent at elites.

Large endowments, buoyed by scale and networks, absorbed the hit better—still receiving billions while distributing record sums. Examples: Public universities like the University of Michigan leaned on diversified revenue, while privates like small colleges faced program cuts or mergers.

Broader ripple effects include faculty hiring freezes and adjunct reliance, impacting higher ed jobs. Students encounter rising net costs, straining access for first-gen learners.

Ripple Effects Across Higher Education

The donation drought amplifies existing strains: state funding lags inflation, federal research grants fluctuate, and tuition sensitivity grows. Colleges respond with cost-cutting—layoffs, deferred maintenance, program consolidations. Research output may slow without endowed chairs.

Students bear indirect costs via higher fees or reduced aid; 47.4 percent of spending aids them, but slower growth threatens sustainability. Faculty face job insecurity, prompting shifts to university jobs elsewhere. Donors, sensing urgency, might redirect to direct scholarships over endowments.

Positive note: Foreign gifts hit $5 billion, diversifying sources. Yet, reliance on volatile international funds poses risks amid geopolitical tensions.

Pathways Forward: Fundraising Strategies and Solutions 🎓

Institutions aren't passive. Successful tactics include:

• Personalized stewardship: Cultivate major donors via impact stories, alumni events.
• Digital campaigns: Leverage crowdfunding for micro-gifts, targeting young alumni.
• Diversify appeals: Bundle endowments with naming opportunities for buildings or programs.
• Planned giving: Promote bequests, trusts amid aging donor base.
• Corporate partnerships: Tie gifts to workforce development, research collaborations.

Explore career advice for advancement pros. Boards emphasize transparency, aligning asks with missions. Tech like AI analytics predicts donor behavior, boosting yields.

For job seekers, this underscores agile careers; check adjunct professor jobs or research roles.

Higher Ed Dive analysis highlights adaptive fundraising.

Outlook for 2026 and Beyond

Projections hinge on macroeconomics: Fed rate cuts could revive markets, spurring gifts. But endowment taxes, election outcomes, and AI disruptions loom. Optimists eye mega-gifts (over $100 million in 2025) and alumni participation rebound.

Sustained 7-8 percent returns, prudent spending preserve viability. Institutions prioritizing DEI transparency, fiscal discipline attract donors. Long-term, endowments remain higher ed's bedrock, funding innovation amid flux.

Photo by H Liu on Unsplash

As colleges navigate this endowment gifts plunge, proactive strategies offer hope. Share your insights in the comments below—have you seen donation shifts at your institution? Explore opportunities at Rate My Professor, browse higher ed jobs, or access career advice. For employers, visit recruitment or post a job. Stay informed on university jobs.

Related reads: Higher Ed Pressures Report.