College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Annual Fund

Cornell CALS tackles the challenges of our times through purpose-driven science that advances understanding and improves life. Since our founding, we have evolved continuously to meet the changing needs of our world. Our top-ranked programs include more than 20 majors in community and rural development, environment and natural resources, food and nutrition, communication, applied economics, agriculture, international programs, and life sciences.

Our science excellence is matched by a spirit of generosity: We aim to leave the world a better place than we found it. We seek faculty and students who are not simply driven to master their discipline but are passionate about using their expertise to serve the public good. CALS is invested in improving daily life for people, their environments, and their communities both in New York and around the world.

Make your gift to CALS now

The CALS Annual Fund supports the lab equipment purchases and global experiences for students preparing for purpose-driven careers.

In the past, CALS Annual Fund dollars have supported:

CALS has developed areas of focus—our transdisciplinary moonshots—as part of its Roadmap to 2050. Moonshot thinking is our way of solving complex, real-world problems, including those that seem impossible, with big ideas and innovative thinking that span disciplines and new technologies.

One of these moonshots, Accelerating Holistic Climate Solutions, has already come into focus. In 2024, we inaugurated state-of-the-art respiratory chambers that will make Cornell a leader in methane research with cattle. Funding came from the CALS Annual Fund and other partners.

Future priorities for the CALS Annual Fund include:

How CALS would use future gifts at the following levels:

$5,000will allow biological and environmental engineering to purchase additional equipment for their labs.
$7,500will provide a student majoring in global development with financial support for an international experience, a requirement for the major.
$10,000will cover expenses, equipment, and materials for a student to conduct breast cancer research during the summer in Ithaca.

Message from the dean

Benjamin Z. Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

“The CALS Annual Fund is critical to our success. It has an immediate impact, enabling us to make nimble, strategic investments, including increasing financial aid to students and hiring faculty who lead in their fields. And it provides life-changing experiential learning for students who will leverage these opportunities and their CALS education to use science to build a better world.”

—Benjamin Z. Houlton
Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Contact Cornell CALS

Connect with us to learn more about ways to give to Cornell CALS by emailing the development team at cornellcals@cornell.edu.

Every dollar adds up

We can do so much more with your support this year—and every year.

Make your gift to CALS

In the past, CALS Annual Fund dollars have supported:

Faculty hiring and start-up lab costs.

Financial aid to make a CALS education accessible.

Transdisciplinary moonshots to solve real-world problems.

Student Success Navigator program to support wellness.

Cornell Cooperative Extension programming in every NY county.

Future priorities for the CALS Annual Fund include:

Financial aid and student support.

Moonshots to solve challenging real-world problems.

Engaged learning experiences like travel and internships.

How CALS would use future gifts at the following levels:

Message from the dean

Contact Cornell CALS

Every dollar adds up