USC, Harvard, Stanford top 2013 fundraising

After recently surpassing the $3 billion mark of its historic $6 billion campaign, USC was recognized as one of the nation’s top three universities for fundraising in fiscal year 2013 by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE).

In CAE’s annual college fundraising report released Feb. 17, USC ranked third among U.S. universities, raising $674.5 million in 2013.

“This achievement reflects the deep commitment USC donors have for the university’s outstanding academic programs, students, and faculty,” said Al Checcio, senior vice president for University Advancement. “We are truly grateful and humbled by the generous outpouring of support from the Trojan Family.”

USC was also highlighted in the CAE report as one of three universities reporting nine-figure donations in 2013. According to CAE, USC received an anonymous gift of nearly $142 million of which approximately $117 million was designated to academic divisions with another $25 million earmarked for property, buildings and equipment.

Charitable contributions to colleges and universities in the United States increased 9 percent in 2013, according to the report. At $33.8 billion, that total is the highest recorded in the history of the survey.

The Campaign for the University of Southern California is a multiyear effort to secure $6 billion or more in private philanthropy to advance USC’s academic priorities and expand its positive impact on the community and world. At the time of its launch in 2011, the campaign was the largest fundraising goal ever announced in higher education.