About the Survey

The Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey has collected data on fundraising at U.S. public and private colleges and universities and a select group of private K-12 institutions since 1957. It is the authoritative source of data on charitable giving to educational institutions in the U.S. CASE has managed the survey since 2018, having acquired it from the Council for Aid to Education (CAE), which managed it from 1957–2017.

CASE encourages any institution that wishes to contribute data to participate in the VSE survey. The data are used to estimate national trends and for benchmarking by individual institutions.

How to Participate

Participation in the VSE survey is free. Download our document on how to participate for more information about the different survey versions, what data are required to participate in the survey, and the optional sections and questions participants can choose to complete. More information on participating, including the survey standards and definitions, guides, and aids, is available on the VSE Survey Help page.

The survey is hosted on the CASE AMAtlas Surveys website. A VSE survey account, which is separate from a CASE member account, is required. Email the AMAtlas team to request a survey account or to change an existing survey contact. Include your institution’s name, city, and state, and your name, email address, and phone number. If you already have an account but have forgotten your password, there is a password reset link on the CASE AMAtlas Surveys login page.

Annual Survey Schedule

Late June: The VSE survey opens for data input. Participants may also request to complete prior-year surveys in which they did not participate.

October 1: Survey deadline for higher education institutions.

November 1: Survey deadline for precollege institutions.

To request a deadline extension, email the AMAtlas team. Include the institution's name, city, and state, your name and contact information, and the requested deadline extension date.

February: Official release of the survey results.

Data & Research Findings

Research Briefs & Publications

CASE releases periodic research briefs using the information that VSE survey participants have reported and offers an annual publication for purchase. Visit the VSE Data & Research Findings page for more information and to read the latest research briefs.

AMAtlas Data Miner

The individual-institution data from the VSE survey are available exclusively in AMAtlas Data Miner, CASE’s longitudinal and comparative metrics on-line reporting solution. Access to AMAtlas Data Miner is a CASE member benefit. Email the AMAtlas team to request a Data Miner account if you are from a CASE member institution. Corporations and non-member institutions can subscribe for a fee. Email the AMAtlas team to request a subscription quote. Please include your name, email address, phone number, and institution name and state.

Graphical Program Summary (GPS) Report

The GPS Report is a new CASE member benefit. Institutions that participate in the VSE survey get a report that provides a visual representation of their year-over-year trends in comparison with their AMAtlas peers and all higher education institutions that complete the VSE survey. Download your institution's GPS report from AMAtlas Data Miner. Don't have a Data Miner account yet? Email the AMAtlas Team.

AMAtlas Faciliated Cohorts

AMAtlas Faciliated Cohort groups provide benchmarking in philanthropy, alumni relations, and communications and marketing. Comprised of 12–18 institutions each, these groups provide participating institutions with customized analysis and an opportunity to convene in-person to better understand benchmarks and trends in order to guide strategic change. Learn more about joining AMAtlas Facilitated Cohorts and request more information here.