Columbia donations drop nearly 29% to $21.4M in wake of anti-Israel protests

Columbia University saw donations at its annual fundraiser drop nearly 29% after the spate of anti-Israel protests on campus earlier this year.

The annual “Giving Day” event brought in $21.4 million in 2024, compared to $30 million in 2022, the last time the event was held, according to campus newspaper Columbia Spectator. Giving Day was postponed in 2023 due to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and the ensuing protests.

The Ivy League university also saw a nearly 28% drop in the number of gifts, falling from 19,229 in 2022 to 13,870, the lowest since 2015, the paper said.

Pro-Palestine protestors demonstrate as Columbia University students line up to enter campus on the first day of classes for the fall semester on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. James Keivom
Students line up to enter Barnard College of Columbia University on the second day of classes on Wednesday, a day after Columbia held its “Giving Day” fundrasier. James Keivom

Columbia is dealing with a “donor crisis — born out of concerns regarding campus protests,” according to the Spectator.

The number of gifts climbed for 10 straight years before this year’s plummet.

The most money came from the athletics department, which raised $4.6 million, a record for the department. Columbia College, which had been in the top spot for 11 years in a row, dropped to second, raising $3.5 million. The School of Engineering and Applied Science came in third place, raising $3.2 million.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Columbia’s campus impacted donations to the school. James Keivom

“Columbia is fortunate to have a dedicated community of alumni, parents and friends who recognize the impact their financial donations, volunteer time, talents, advice and mentoring make in assisting students and supporting the mission of the university and its schools,” a Columbia spokesperson said. “Their participation and support is ongoing and sincerely appreciated, and they continue to ensure the ongoing success of the university.”

The school has faced criticism for its mishandling of the demonstrations.

Anti-Israel protests resumed in September as the 2024-2025 school year commenced.

Columbia was one of the Ivy schools to be investigated by the Department of Education for civil rights violations under Title VI in December.