• Calendar | News | People | A to Z | Home

Annual giving is just that: gifts to the college that are made annually and spent within one fiscal year. St. Olaf College's fiscal year runs June 1- May 31.

Gifts to the annual fund are unrestricted, meaning that they are used where the need is greatest.

Why give to Partners?

A few reasons why alumni give to Partners in Annual Giving...

We are grateful for our experience on campus and wish that for the next generation of Oles.
Joleen Baker Chambers '74

St. Olaf has had such an influence on my calling in life, and use of my time, talents, and treasures! I think we need to continue the tradition. There were those who gave before me, and I need to give to those who are coming after me.
Lillian Osterhus Cole '51

What are examples of what Partners gifts help fund?

• Acoustic and aesthetic renovations of Boe Memorial Chapel
• A World Language Center
• The new campus ring roadway
• Student financial aid and scholarships

Does every gift matter?

Last year, 50 percent of all St. Olaf alumni donors made a gift between $1 and $100.  With more than 9,700 Oles participating, these contributions had an important impact.

All gifts to Partners in Annual Giving -- regardless of size -- are a statement of support for the St. Olaf mission of providing a liberal arts education, rooted in the christian gospel and encorperating a global perspective.

These gifts are compounded with others to make a difference in the lives of current and future Oles.

What is Partners in Annual Giving?

A philanthropic tradition began at St. Olaf in 1874, when Rev. Bernt Julius Muus gathered a small group of men and women willing to sacrifice goods and energies in order to found an institution dedicated to promoting higher learning in the context of Christian faith. 

Since then, alumni, parents, and friends have established a tradition of giving their own resources to help provide the St. Olaf experience for others.

In 1991, the college began a formal giving program which concentrated solely on annual gifts to the college. The program was named Partners in Annual Giving because people who make gifts are considered partners in this important mission.

How are gifts to Partners used?

For every dollar received:

$.44 Instruction, international studies scholarships.
$.22 Financial aid; academic scholarships.
$.15 Institutional overhead, maintenance.
$.11 Academic support; libraries; computer labs.
$.08 Augmenting student life.

We invite you to make a commitment today to this important endeavor!