Helping other humans is our nature
“I think that achieving the greatest good, helping other humans, is in our nature.”
—Sam Jurado ’24
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A Big Red thank you to our donors!
The generosity of our donors touches the lives of Cornell’s students and faculty each and every day. We are so grateful for your support and all the good you make possible.
A collective power, united by a shared purpose
Cornellians are so much more than the sum of their majors. They are far greater than their personal achievements. That’s because Cornellians are a collective—a force for good united by thousands of shared experiences, hopes, ambitions, and partnerships that reach across decades. Together, there is no limit to what they can accomplish.
No matter where or how Cornellians are making a difference in the world, their work is touched—and often powered by—the generosity of donors.
Cornell annual fund donors give students and faculty a chance to say “yes” to opportunities for learning, discovery, personal well-being, and growth. In this way, gifts of all sizes open doors. They carry the remarkable possibility of transforming lives and the world, for the better.
Annual funds are supporting students and faculty in more ways than one
Every dollar given to Cornell annual funds is connected to the explorations, discoveries, and transformations of our students and faculty. Here are just a few stories made possible by annual fund support.
Numbers that make a difference
In 2023-2024, annual fund donors helped fund Cornell’s major priorities, such as financial aid and scholarship, student experiences in and outside the classroom, research, and community outreach.
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$54.4M
Total raised for the Cornell annual funds
The $54.4 million raised supports all kinds of needs and causes across the university.
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68,457
Total annual fund gifts
68,457 total gifts of all sizes were made to Cornell annual funds last year.
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40,100
Total annual fund donors
More than 40,100 donors from all over the world made a gift to Cornell annual funds.
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A $1.36 billion equivalent
The $54.4 million in annual fund support raised in 2023-2024 is equivalent to the [annual] payout of a $1.36 billion endowment.
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$1.6M
Total raised for undergraduate scholarships
Annual fund donors raised $1.6 million for undergraduate scholarships.
Collaboration reimagines shopping mall as wellness hub
Annual funds allowed faculty and students to participate in a "re-imagining" workshop for The Shops at Ithaca Mall. In partnership with community members and nonprofit leaders, they proposed ideas that would be most supportive of human functioning and advancing health equity.
Building deconstruction, reuse would benefit NYS jobs, climate
A team of cross-disciplinary researchers at Cornell is creating a roadmap for a circular construction economy. This work will help policymakers shift from wasteful demolition practices to approaches that prioritize the systematic deconstruction of buildings and reuse of materials. This research is supported by annual funds through 2030 Fast Grants.
Nanofiber bandages fight infection, speed healing
Research like Professor Tamer Uyar’s is supported by annual fund donors. He and an interdisciplinary team identified a way to use an antioxidant and antibacterial compound to make nanofiber-coated cotton bandages. This innovation can fight infection and help wounds heal more quickly.
Brooks undergraduate journeyed to COP28 to tackle climate change
Annual funds support the Brooks School Student Opportunity Grant, a program that allowed Cynthia Tan ’26 to attend COP28 in Dubai. Tan received UN accreditation for the conference, with a Blue Zone badge, providing her access to formal negotiations and the experience of a lifetime.
I’ve learned to never give up
“I’ve learned to never give up. I could have easily given up in high school. I could have said, ‘There’s no way I’ll be able to go to college and afford it.’”
—Olivia Maday ’24
Making a Cornell education even more accessible
Ezra Cornell believed education could transform lives—that educating one student could reach across generations. He also understood that investing in the education of others was the best way to build a better world.
Gifts of all kinds have helped fulfill Ezra’s founding vision by ensuring that a Cornell education always remains accessible and affordable to any person regardless of their ability to pay.
“Generous support has eased my family’s financial burden and allowed me to attend Cornell. Witnessing the selfless support of alumni, parents, and friends—who are willing to provide opportunities and remove obstacles—deeply inspires me.”
—Andres Castellanos ’25
The generosity of annual fund donors is helping Cornell reduce the costs of attendance for students and their families. More and more accepted students can afford to say “yes” to their dream of becoming a Cornellian.
In 2023-2024, 2,705 donors to the Cornell annual funds raised $1.6 million for undergraduate scholarships. One hundred percent of these gifts funded financial aid packages. About half of all undergraduate students at Cornell receive financial aid.
Annual fund gifts make these stories possible
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Summer Experience Grants fund internships, research projects
The grants, supported by annual fund dollars, allowed 119 students from the College of Arts & Sciences to take on meaningful summer work and experiences in 2024.
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Cornell grant aid puts a transformative education within reach
This type of gift aid—which does not have to be repaid—has more than tripled in the past 20 years. Students receiving aid pay less to attend Cornell today than they would have 20 years ago.
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Summer program gives undergraduates a taste of research life
Annual fund dollars expanded the Bowers Undergraduate Research Experience (BURE). The 10-week, paid summer research program allows students to explore a future career in research.
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Students can say “yes” to summer opportunities
Annual fund donors directly support students who take on meaningful summer work that’s unpaid or minimally paid. Many students can afford to take on these opportunities because of this funding.
Solving the world’s most complex challenges
Our faculty and practitioners are pioneering big ideas and world-changing discoveries that could one day solve the greatest issues of our time. Their influence reaches far and wide, providing knowledge and best practices to nonprofit agencies, government organizations, and communities all over the world.
Annual fund gifts directly connect donors to Cornell’s research and all that it makes possible. These gifts allow deans to say “yes” to funding faculty who face unanticipated research costs. They inspire experimentation that can lead to future grants and innovations. And they also help attract talent, fund vital positions, and purchase necessary equipment and materials so researchers can move their ideas forward.
Discovering ways to heal our planet
Global sustainability is just one of many research areas where Cornellians are already making a difference. From climate and energy science to environmental justice and food security to human and animal health, our faculty are building off Cornell’s legacy of experimentation and innovation in their work to heal and preserve our planet.
Some active research projects supported by annual funds:
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Respiration stalls that enhance methane research
New climate-controlled animal respiration stalls—the only devices of their kind in operation in the U.S.— allow researchers to better design animal feed, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nutritional waste.
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A model for repurposing construction waste
Deconstruction, salvage, and reuse of construction materials can help reduce emissions and waste. Cornell researchers are developing a policy action plan that intends to inform and widely inspire this practice.
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University grassland projects grow environmental solutions
Researchers across Cornell are exploring how university grasslands can protect birds, encourage biodiversity, and sequester carbon to fight climate change.
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Monitoring climate-related public health challenges
Climate change is making weather more extreme, a challenge threatening to strain public health resources everywhere. Cornell researchers are responding to this threat by developing a public health surveillance model.
Supporting urgent research
Cornell annual funds support fast grants through the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. This seed funding allows faculty to pursue urgent and impact-oriented climate research.
Learn moreHelping students flourish
A student’s time at Cornell is unlike any other period in their lives. It is a time when they can explore the boundless possibilities that exist within themselves. Their time on the Hill fosters immense transformation that goes far beyond academic achievement.
In and outside of the classroom, Cornell students develop skills that help them seek and create support, purpose, meaning, well-being, and community for the rest of their lives. These outcomes help Cornellians not only succeed but thrive.
“My classes have taught me that change and growth come with starting uncomfortable conversations about topics that are not commonly discussed. By stepping out of my comfort zone, I have learned to engage with different audiences and see their needs through their perspective, by having fruitful conversations.”
—Jasmine Guarin ’24
Cornell annual funds support students throughout their journeys and transformations on campus—and far beyond it. Donors help ensure that students can say “yes” to opportunities to better themselves and their communities, whether that means seeking help during periods of stress or building connectedness through community engagement.
Some opportunities supported by annual funds:
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MBA students, Dyson undergraduates consult clients and tackle grand challenges
The team set out to explore edible insect products as a viable business opportunity and a sustainable, affordable protein for the world’s growing population.
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Reach into the stars
“My favorite part about Cornell Engineering is the endless opportunity to explore and try new things—from classes that embody learning-by-doing to project teams that push the limits of physics to student-led research that aims to push the limits of how far humans can reach into the stars.”
—Harris Miller ’23, M.Eng. ’24
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Just About Music Program House sets the stage for student growth
Just About Music (JAM) residents share a passion and appreciation for music. The program house has several in-house resources, including a concert stage, a recording studio, a 24-hour practice room, and instruments.
Fostering well-being
Cornell annual fund dollars helped launch a pilot program for personalized well-being coaching for all students. The new offering helped Cornellians set and pursue their individual goals.
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New CALS program supports transition to Cornell
The CALS Student Success Navigator Program provides additional assistance to new first-year and transfer students and their families. It aims to foster and support wellness and success by building a community of support for students.
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Freedom to explore my own project
“I appreciate the degree of freedom I’ve been given to explore my own project. I’ve been learning that the scientific process is built off many small steps that you don’t even see in the final paper.”
—Blythe Wong ’25, a Nexus Scholar in the College of Arts & Sciences
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New indoor sports facility to honor Peter C. Meinig ’61
Annual funds are supporting construction of the Meinig Fieldhouse, which will serve varsity athletics, club teams, and recreational athletes in many activities, advancing Cornell’s commitment to well-being.
How gifts of all kinds make a difference
Learn why Cornell needs gifts of all shapes and sizes to do the greatest possible good for Cornellians and for the world.
Learn more