One year ago, the University launched the Colgate Commitment to improve access and affordability for students. Last fall 12 challengers stepped forward to encourage gifts to make this initiative permanently endowed, with a goal of raising $25 million in new endowment for the Colgate Commitment. Thanks to the generosity of these 12 Colgate Commitment challengers, and the more than 700 alumni and friends who responded to their call, the University has raised $22.5 million of the $25 million of new financial aid endowment needed to fund the Colgate Commitment in perpetuity.
As previously reported this past spring, the University received a record 21,261 applications for admission to the Class of 2026. Preliminary analysis of the Colgate Commitment’s impact revealed that 78% of no-loan-eligible students who chose Colgate believed the University’s financial aid offers were superior to that of their other choices.
Colgate Commitment Challengers:
• Chris ’94 and Julie Brown ’93 Ackerman P’24
• Stephen ’80, H’04 and Gretchen H. ’81 Burke P’11,’20
• Carmine ’85 and Amy Everett ’86 Di Sibio P’18,’21
• Julian ’93 and Jennifer Heltzel ’95 Farrior
• Donna O. Golkin ’74
• The Heuer Family (Alan ’63, Jon ’99)
• Peter L. ’65 and Maria T. Kellner P’87, GP’16,’19
• Kevin ’65 and Jana Maher
• Ramzi Musallam ’90
• Michael F. Petersen ’77
• John K. Runnette ’54
• Gabriel T. ’00 and Jolie Schwartz