Public Universities Turn to Alumni for Help

With looming cuts to state higher education appropriations, public universities are stepping up their efforts to raise funds from alumni, according to a recent New York Times article. While some public schools have well-established fundraising operations, others have only recently begun to actively seek private funds, and their efforts are further hindered by the weak economy. According to the Council for Aid to Education, charitable contributions to colleges and universities totaled $28 billion in 2010, an increase of .5% from 2009, but still well below the 2008 total of $31.6 billion.