Last month, more than 600 members of the Scripps family, including alums, parents of past and current students, students, faculty, staff, and friends rallied together in support of Scripps’ 2020 Day of Giving. This year’s campaign centered on offsetting the formidable impact of the coronavirus on the College and our community, with focus placed on supporting the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, the Student Emergency Fund, Scholarship Aid, and The Scripps Fund.
Including matching gifts from several generous donors from our alum family, our community successfully raised $394,265 in critical aid for the College, with the average gift of approximately $300 demonstrating the collective power of giving regardless of gift amount. Donors raised approximately $29,848 for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund; $9,617 for the Student Emergency Fund; $15,987 for Scholarship Aid; and $279,862 for The Scripps Fund. Additional gifts were designated to other giving areas, including Mental Health and Wellness, Career Planning & Resources, and essential services for Scripps students.
Since the closure of campus this spring, Scripps has spent approximately $3 million to support our students’ unanticipated transition to remote instruction. Scripps was also able to meet 95% of student aid requests to cover further pressing needs through the Student Emergency Fund and additional funds allocated for urgent coronavirus response.
Combined with losses due to reimbursed room and board, canceled events, and a dip in our endowment, this year’s emergency-focused Day of Giving took on fresh significance as the College faced a $10 million, and growing, deficit. With more emergency needs expected to extend into the 2020–2021 academic year, funds raised from Day of Giving will provide direct and immediate support to our students, programs, and resources hit hardest by the pandemic.
“The generous gifts from our donor community on Day of Giving will not only provide us with the flexibility to meet current challenges, they’ll also help preserve the signature Scripps experience for our students into the future,” says President of Scripps College Lara Tiedens. “We’re deeply thankful to all those who demonstrated their conviction in Scripps’ mission by participating in this landmark Day of Giving.”
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