Frequently Asked Questions

We invite you to learn more about The Pomona College Annual Fund by reviewing some of the most frequently asked questions of staff and volunteers:

Question: What is The Annual Fund?
Answer: The gifts that alumni, parents, and friends of the College make in response to yearly requests for support comprise The Annual Fund. Annual giving is a way in which the largest number of college constituents are able to support Pomona. The Annual Fund includes unrestricted gifts and gifts restricted for current operations. Gifts to the Fund are expended in the fiscal year in which they are received. ^ Top

Question: How is The Annual Fund used?
Answer: Annual gifts help support the operating budget. They provide vitally needed resources for academic programs, scholarship support, equipment and materials purchases, computers for labs, student services, as well as academic and co-curricular programming and activities. Pomona depends on annual gifts for an important part of its budget. In fact, an additional $60 million in endowment would be needed to generate what Pomona receives through Annual Fund gifts. ^ Top

Question: Pomona has a large endowment. Why does the College need more money?
Answer: Yes, Pomona's financial strength is due in part to a sizable endowment, and this makes it possible for the College to attract the best students and faculty, and maintain some of the finest facilities in the country. Each year, we can spend only part of the interest earned on the endowment - approximately five percent in total. This covers close to 30 percent of Pomona's annual operating costs. Tuition and room and board income does not cover the remaining costs to operate the College. Therefore, Pomona needs the support of alumni, parents and friends to make up the shortfall. We know that if we spend more of the endowment now, we will have less of it to spend later. We consider Pomona to be a perpetual institution. The College has been around for over 100 years and we want it to continue to prosper forever. We hope you agree. ^ Top

Question: What is the average size gift made to The Annual Fund?
Answer: During the 2006 - 2007 fund year, the average gift made to The Annual Fund was $450. The average alumni gift was $473. ^ Top

Question: How many alumni give to Pomona College? How does this compare to the giving rates at peer institutions?
Answer: During 2006 - 2007, 8,717 alumni made annual gifts to the College. This resulted in a 46% participation rate. The participation rate of a college's alumni is often used to indicate alumni satisfaction. In fact, organizations that rank colleges and universities, and many foundations that support them, consider alumni giving as the sole indicator of the satisfaction of former students with their education. Below are 2006 - 2007 comparative fund raising figures. You can see for yourself how Pomona stacked up. ^ Top