Increased giving reported in the Voluntary Support of Education Survey should help advancement leaders approach 2018 with cautious optimism, even in the face of recent tax code changes, says CASE President and CEO Sue Cunningham.

According to the 2017 VSE survey report, contributions to U.S. colleges and universities reached a record high of $43.6 billion in 2017, the highest level of giving reported by the Council for Aid to Education since the survey launched in 1957.

Notably, this year's report shows that gifts from alumni rose 14.5 percent and totaled more than $11 billion, and gifts from non-alumni grew 4.5 percent.

In a statement, Cunningham expressed appreciation for the dedication of advancement professionals, whose work "sustains and enhances higher education in the United States."

"Philanthropic giving contributes directly to the ability of these institutions to deliver on their mission to transform lives and society by preparing students for future endeavors, providing critical research advancements touching every aspect of life and directly enhancing the communities and regions they serve," Cunningham said.

The VSE survey is conducted annually by the Council for Aid to Education and sponsored by CASE. Full results will be published in the spring.

This article is from the February 2018 BriefCASE issue.