Grinnell College relies on gifts from alumni, parents, and friends to fully fund each year. Grinnell’s programs prepare students for lives we cannot yet imagine for them. Grinnell College is a non-profit organization, reliant on past and present philanthropy to cover the remaining 2/3 of costs not covered by net tuition and fees. Every student receives a “scholarship” each year of more than $6,000 – the difference between full tuition, and full cost.
Development
FAQ - Pioneer Fund
Yes! You are welcome to commemorate a person or program who made a difference for you. Making gifts in honor or memory of someone celebrates the Grinnell community.
Giving recognition includes all gifts to Grinnell College given between July 1 and June 30 -- to the annual Pioneer Fund, capital gifts, and endowment gifts. The levels can be found here.
This year more than any other, Grinnell needs your support. Money from the Pioneer Fund is spent in full every year, and consistent support from donors maintains Grinnell College programs and services while maintaining relative costs to students.
The College operates on a fiscal year that begins each July 1 and ends each June 30.
Pioneer Fund gifts are applied to this year’s expenses along with tuition, fees, auxiliary incomes, and the allotted endowment percentage. You can make gifts as Pioneer Fund gifts to fund this year’s commitment to our students and as restricted/designated Pioneer Fund gifts to enhance a specific program of the College. All gifts given to the Pioneer Fund are part of Grinnell College's yearly operating budget including:
- financial aid;
- social and cultural events;
- research, internship, and study-abroad opportunities;
- outstanding faculty and dedicated staff;
- and many of the other worthwhile expenses that Grinnell College has each year.
No. Funds for new buildings come from strategic reserves and private donations specifically for that purpose. The Pioneer Fund does support the annual maintenance of the campus.
Gifts credited for the tax year (December 31st) and the fiscal/fundraising year (June 30th) include:
- On-line gifts must be made prior to midnight CDT December 31st (for tax year) or June 30th (for fiscal year).
- Credit card gifts taken over the phone made prior to 5pm CDT on December 31st (for tax year) or June 30th (for fiscal year).
- Credit card gifts mailed in and received prior to December 31st (for tax year) or June 30th (for fiscal year) for office processing.
- Checks mailed in must be postmarked on or before December 31st (for tax year) or June 30th (for fiscal year).
The “endowment” was created by donors making gifts in the past and the Board of Trustees’, chief among them Joe Rosenfield ’25, sustained commitment to leverage the gifts and investment to create security for Grinnell College. Gifts can be endowed, invested, and a small portion used according to the donors wishes. You can make gifts to the unrestricted endowment or explore options to endow funds, prizes, scholarships, and professorships.
Pioneer Fund gifts are current use gifts, and are needed to fulfill this year’s program commitments.
The Grinnell Magazine has an in depth article. http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/communications/magazine/fall-2011
