Celebrating Our Generous Community
A Carleton education is rooted in community, curiosity, and generosity—and last fiscal year, more than 15,000 alumni, parents, and friends of the College reaffirmed these values by donating gifts, time, and energy. Together, they lay a foundation for Carleton to carry out its mission of delivering the very best liberal arts education. Students from all socioeconomic backgrounds are able to join our community, fully participate in hands-on learning opportunities and extracurricular activities, and prepare to lead lives of meaning that will positively influence the world for generations to come.
We are grateful for the many Carleton alumni, parents and friends who made gifts to the College and who volunteered their time. You make a significant impact!
Thank you!
By the Numbers
- Total gifts: $44,216,263
- Total donors: 12,110
- Total volunteers: 2,954
- Joseph Lee Heywood Society: 88 new members
- Three Oaks Society: 85 new members
- Gifts supporting financial aid: $15,135,853
Annual Giving Highlights
The Annual Fund raised $10,187,967 in 2023-2024 thanks to 11,323 alumni, parents, and friends of the College. Their generosity provides flexible dollars that enhance the student experience for all students—through financial aid, career programming, wellness initiatives, and more.
- $9,073,699 raised for the Alumni Annual Fund from 8,696 donors
- $999,300 raised by the Parents Fund from 1,594 donors
- $114,968 raised by the Friends Fund from 167 donors
Find more information about donors’ impact on the Annual Fund website.
Reunion Giving Highlights
Alumni and their families from the Class of 1947 through the Class of 2024 returned to campus this summer to celebrate community, lifelong learning, and, of course, Carleton. In addition to reconnecting with one another, they also took time to generously support the next generation of Carls.
50th Reunion
The Class of 1974 made history in June with the largest-ever 50th Reunion gift to the College. $65,232,084 was raised by class members in celebration of their milestone reunion. The gift will support a number of key initiatives at Carleton, but this class’s legacy will be most deeply felt through the establishment of a new building focused on student health and well-being. The Class of 1974 Center will be the first building at Carleton to carry a class name in recognition of their support.
Through gifts totaling $1.3 million, members of the class also established an endowed scholarship to expand financial aid for Carleton’s highest need students, leveraging generous matching funds from the Carleton Access Initiative. Other gifts from classmates are supporting scientific research and field experiences, off-campus study, interdisciplinary, neurodiversity, accessibility, academic departments, and athletics, and also include unrestricted funds for Carleton through endowment and the Alumni Annual Fund.
In total more than 57 percent of the class made gifts in honor of their 50th, and 40 percent of class members returned to campus to celebrate in person, setting a new record for the largest number (155) of 50th Reunion attendees. The class also had the most first-time Reunion attendees (30), due in large part to the Reunion Committee’s thoughtful and creative outreach efforts.
25th Reunion
In celebration of their 25th Reunion, the Class of 1999 raised their largest class gift for the Alumni Annual Fund ever, giving $200,254 in support of the College’s evolving needs. The planning committee was diligent in reaching out to as many classmates as possible throughout their gift campaign and approached their work with creativity, optimism, and persistence. Twenty-fifth reunion donors—approximately 52 percent of the class—came together to pay it forward to current Carleton students, helping to ensure that every student is able to experience all Carleton has to offer.