Australia and New Zealand— Philanthropic support for higher education institutions across Australia and New Zealand reached AU$914.9 million in new funds committedᵃ in 2024, including a single transformational gift of AU$100 million, according to the newly released CASE Insights℠ on Philanthropy (Australia and New Zealand), 2024 Key Findings.

Now in its thirteenth year, the survey tracks the health of philanthropy across the sector. This year’s results, based on the data from 34 institutions, reveal a mixed picture: while headline totals are buoyed by record-breaking generosity, underlying trends expose critical vulnerabilities.

• Donor numbers have continued to decline, with alumni donors falling by nearly one-third since 2020ᵇ—decreases in donor numbers are echoed in other regions.
• Median new funds committed dropped between 2023 and 2024, despite the headline increase to the total, driven by a substantial outlier gift.
• AU$131.4 million was invested in fundraising activities across the 34 participating institutions, and AU$66.3 million in alumni relations. The majority of this was invested in staff, with a total of 716 full-time equivalent fundraising professionals and 343 alumni relations professionals being employed across the 34 institutions.

“Philanthropy is increasingly essential for institutions navigating shifting enrolments, international student policy changes, and economic pressures tied to the cost-of-living crisis,” said Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of CASE. “This year’s results underscore both the transformative potential of extraordinary gifts and the urgent need to broaden and sustain alumni participation.”

The report highlights the critical role of philanthropy in funding life-changing research and opening doors for students. Both Go8ᶜ and Non-Go8 institutions saw strong philanthropic support for research and innovation, as well as robust donor backing for bursaries and scholarships.

CASE leaders stress that the sector cannot rely on extraordinary gifts alone. “Transformational commitments are remarkable, but they can mask deeper challenges,” Cunningham noted. “Sustained investment in advancement staff and consistent alumni engagement are essential if we are to build long-term resilience.”

The decline in alumni donor numbers represents a pressing challenge. CASE’s global research shows that alumni who remain connected through communications, experiences, and volunteering are far more likely to give. Strengthening these ties is foundational to lasting philanthropic growth.

Participation in CASE Insights surveys, rooted in the CASE Global Reporting Standards, equips institutions with the evidence they need to benchmark, secure resources, and advocate for investment. The more institutions that contribute data, the stronger the collective knowledge becomes.

Notes to Editors 
  

ᵃNew funds committed: New funds committed (previously new funds secured) by an institution includes new donations/gifts received, new confirmed pledges not yet received, realised bequests, and the market value of gifts-in-kind received in the reporting year. It excludes payments on pledges made in previous years. Measuring new funds committed reflects the success of current fundraising activity.  

ᵇTrend data: Five-year trends were calculated for a consistent cohort of 26 institutions that provided information for a key set of variables for each year from 2020 to 2024.

ᶜGo8 institutions: The report breaks down data into two subgroups: Group of Eight (Go8) and Non-Group of Eight (Non-Go8) institutions. The Go8 is a coalition of research intensive Australian higher education institutions. Non-Go8 participants include institutions from both Australia and New Zealand.

About the Survey  

CASE Insights℠ on Philanthropy (Australia and New Zealand), now in its thirteenth edition, is part of CASE Insights, CASE’s global resource for educational advancement-related metrics, benchmarks, and analytics that provides a range of other data and resources for schools, universities, and colleges.  

This research provides data on charitable giving, donors, and investments in fundraising and alumni relations for universities in Australia and New Zealand and complements similar surveys conducted in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  

About CASE  

CASE is the home for advancement professionals at not-for-profit education and education-related institutions. It inspires, challenges, and equips institutions to pursue success effectively and ethically. CASE defines the competencies and standards for the profession of advancement and champions their dissemination and application through its network of more than 90,000 advancement professionals at 3,100 member institutions in 80 countries.

Broad and growing communities of professionals gather under the global CASE umbrella. Currently, the CASE network includes professionals who work in alumni relations, development and advancement services, communications, fundraising, government relations, and marketing. These professionals are at all stages of their careers and may work at universities, schools, colleges, cultural institutions, or other not-for-profit organizations. In addition to the expertise of its staff, CASE uses the intellectual capital and professional talents of a community of international volunteers to advance its work. Its membership also includes many educational partners that work closely with the education sector, further enriching the CASE experience.

As the world leader in offering data about advancement outcomes provided through its CASE InsightsSM division, CASE helps professionals in the education sector achieve their objectives by making data-driven decisions. CASE provides detailed benchmarking data that enable colleges, universities, and independent schools to compare themselves with peer and aspirant institutions as well as with themselves over time. In addition, CASE publishes research reports about emerging issues and summary information relative to advancement.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CASE works across all continents from its regional offices in London, Singapore, and Mexico City to achieve a seamless experience for its stakeholders, particularly its members, volunteers, and staff