Donations ºÚÁÏÍø University in 2024
Donors are a vital part of Aalto University community. Donations advance the purpose of the university and strengthen its long-term financial sustainability. The role of Aalto University Endowment is to manage the received donations and safeguard the intergenerational equity of the university. The impact of the funding from the endowment to the university’s research and education is significant, currently covering about 8% of Aalto University’s total operating budget. The funding secures the continuation of high-quality education and research activities, counter-balancing the long-term erosion of the university’s public funding base.
During 2024, Aalto University Endowment received €7M (€5) new donations, of which €4M (€3M) were expendable donations and €3M (€2M) capitalizing and hybrid. Donations were directed to restricted funds. Of the donations, 56% was targeted to the field of technology, 26% to business, 5% to art and design, and 13% to the university in general. Of the donations, 21% were targeted towards the long-term development, financial sustainability and risk resiliency of Aalto University and its schools, 72% towards the development of Aalto University’s research and arts spearheads, including academic positions, and 7% towards educating and supporting future talent. The total number of donors in 2024 was 540 (397), marking a 36% increase from the year 2023.
During 2024, Aalto University Endowment provided €41M (€37M) funding to the university operations. Spending from the general endowment fund was €32M (€29M), allocated to education and research activities based on the university internal funding model. As an example, this amount would cover the salary costs of approximately 210 professors per year.
Spending from the restricted funds was €7M (€6M), the most significant funding being directed to professorships and professorships of practice, along with the development and research at the schools of technology.
At the end of 2024, the value of the endowment funds was €1498M (€1382M), of which assets in endowment portfolio were €1480M (€1364M) and cash assets were €19M (€19M).
The value of the general endowment fund, providing funding for the long-term development of the university, was €1391M (€1278M). It consisted of donations of €200M (€200M), capitalization received from the Finnish government of €532M (€532M), and €658M (€544M) of accumulated return, including accumulated university inflation of €258M and accumulated real return of €399M.
The restricted funds, providing funding for both the current and long-term development needs of a specific cause, were €84M (€81M) at the end of 2024. Of them, €19M (€19M) were expendable,
€65M (€62M) capitalizing and hybrid funds.
*Figures in parenthesis refer to year 2023.
Additional information can be found in the PDF version of the review
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