As the pandemic erupted, some institutions reached out to donors without asking for contributions, while others solicited support for their institutions’ human services, the report notes. Many community colleges, for instance, found success raising money for emergency student aid.
Giving to current operations rose to 7% in fiscal 2020, while gifts for capital purposes — which include those to the endowment and for property and equipment — declined 10%. However, restrictions on gifts didn’t change much; donors continued to earmark much of their giving for research and student financial aid.