Efforts to Columbia University fell by nearly 29 % during its 2024 yearly gala after a number of anti-Israel demonstrations earlier this year, according to the New York Post.
The Columbia Spectator, a school newspaper, cited the school’s processing of college demonstrations as the core of a “donor issue”. Anti-Israel protests reignited in September as the 2024-2025 educational season began. This condition has compounded Columbia’s difficulties, leading to increased criticism, especially regarding how the school managed these presentations.
The university’s” Giving Day” event raised$ 21.4 million in 2024, falling short of the$ 30 million raised in 2022, the last time the event was held. The 2023 event was postponed due to the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent demonstrations, according to a document from Columbia Spectator.
The university’s sports ministry emerged as the top fundraiser for the first time, bringing in$ 4.6 million, a record for the office. Columbia College, which had held the top position for 11 years, raised$ 3.5 million, while the School of Engineering and Applied Science followed with$ 3.2 million.
In addition to the overall economic decline, Columbia even experienced a significant 28 per share decline in the number of unique gifts, with achievements falling from 19, 229 in 2022 to 13, 870 in 2024—the lowest since 2015. After ten consecutive times of increasing gifts, this is a significant turnaround.
Columbia University was also one of the Ivy League schools that the Department of Education looked into in December for possible Title VI legal rights violations. Despite these setbacks, a Columbia director expressed appreciation to the school’s group of students, parents, and friends for their continued support, acknowledging the crucial part their contributions play in supporting students and the school’s goal.
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