News


MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Donations to Middlebury increased sharply in fiscal year 2018, rebounding to more than $40 million following a dip last year. In all, Middlebury received a total of $41.3 million in gifts during the year, which ended on June 30. That amount represents cash received for the endowment, capital, and current use through gifts and foundation grants, plus gifts-in-kind to the institution. It does not include pledges. Gifts to Middlebury have exceeded $40 million in eight of the last nine years.

“Middlebury is incredibly fortunate to have donors—alumni, parents, friends, and foundations—who are committed to the institution,” said Middlebury President Laurie Patton. “Their enthusiasm and support for Middlebury make it possible for current and future students to receive the excellent educational experience that defines our institution across all its schools and programs. Our donors inspire us and we are immensely grateful for their generosity.”

The funds that Middlebury has raised will support Middlebury College, the Middlebury Language Schools, the Middlebury C.V. Starr Schools Abroad, the Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English, the Middlebury Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and the Middlebury School of the Environment.

The $41.3 million in philanthropic support received during the past year was a 16-percent increase over the $35.6 million received the previous fiscal year. “We’re very pleased with this year’s results,” said Colleen Fitzpatrick, Middlebury’s vice president for advancement. “We want to thank the many members of the extended Middlebury community whose gifts will help in so many ways, from supporting faculty to providing financial aid.”

Donations to Middlebury College specifically directed toward financial aid are a major source of funding for student support. About 45 percent of Middlebury undergraduates receive financial aid, with an average grant of $47,439.

Donations increased in several important areas. Gifts to Middlebury College grew by 27 percent, from $22.5 million in 2017 to $28.6 million in 2018. Support for the Middlebury Institute saw a jump of 17 percent from $3.4 million to more than $3.9 million. Total gifts to the Annual Fund remained strong at $21.9 million, equaling last year’s total.

Parent giving continued to perform strongly, raising more than $7.4 million through the participation of 31 percent of parents of undergraduate students.

Nationwide, colleges and universities have experienced decreases in recent years in the percentage of alumni who give to their alma mater. While Middlebury has been affected by this trend, this year it experienced an increase as the percentage of Middlebury College alumni who made donations reached 39 percent versus 36 percent last year. That growth is due to an increase of more than 1,000 undergraduate alumni donors.