Giving

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does St. John's have an Annual Fund?

Without the Annual Fund, the program of instruction could not be carried out the way it is now because other sources of revenue do not supply enough operating income.  Every dollar contributed to the Annual Fund goes to support teaching and learning at St. John’s. Contributions to the Annual Fund are an essential component in the college’s operating budget. The college’s revenue sources include:

  • tuition,
  • state and federal grants,
  • income from the endowment, and
  • and gifts.

Tuition, state and federal grants, and income from the endowment supply about 94% of the operating budget; grants from corporations and foundations; and gifts from alumni, parents, and friends make up the difference.

What is my gift to the Annual Fund used for?

Here is how each dollar given to the Annual Fund is put to work:

  • 32 cents goes for the program of instruction (including tutor salaries),
  • 24 cents is for need-based financial aid,
  • 20 cents is for institutional support (running the admissions and other offices, information technology on the campuses, staff salaries, maintenance of the campuses, etc.),
  • 11 cents goes for student services (counseling, athletics, security, etc.), and • 5 cents goes for academic support (libraries and labs).

Every dollar contributed to the St. John’s Annual Fund holds the equivalent spending power of $20 in the endowment (assuming a 5% annual draw). This means that your gift to the Annual Fund is a highly effective way to support the college!

Tuition is already high. Doesn’t it cover most of the cost of running the college?
Tuition covers only about 75% of the cost of educating a St. John’s student. This is true even for those students who do not qualify to receive financial aid and pay full tuition.

What percentage of students receive financial aid?
With current tuition at $34,306, about 60% of students receive a combination of St. John’s College grants, work-study jobs, and federal loans. The average St. John’s College aid package to those with need is $18,522.

The college is committed to its need-based financial aid policies, which ensure that students from all economic backgrounds have the opportunity to study at the college.

What else does my contribution to the Annual Fund mean for students?
In addition to financial aid, the college provides a full spectrum of student services and activities, including health and personal counseling, the intramural athletic program, funding for clubs and organizations, and fine arts programs. The Career Services Offices on the campuses offer a variety of programs and services for students and alumni to assist them with graduate school or entry into professions.

What is the endowment? What is its purpose? What is its value?
The endowment differs from the Annual Fund in that money contributed to the endowment is invested, and the principal is not used to meet immediate needs. Instead, the endowment is money that secures the future of St. John’s College. Every year, about 5% of the value of the endowment is drawn and used toward the cost of operating the college. The market value of the endowment as of July 1, 2006 was about $101 million.
 
Contributions to the endowment can be either unrestricted (used for any purpose) or specified for a certain purpose, such as financial aid or the libraries. A healthy endowment is critical for St. John’s. In years of good markets, the excess yield is channeled back into the endowment to continue its growth. The St. John's College endowment is highly diversified so as to minimize risk.

What about Alumni Association dues—are they gifts to the college?
The Alumni Association is a separate non-profit organization and is not part of St. John’s College. Dues to the Association are not gifts to the college. Dues paid to the Alumni Association support the work of the Association, including Homecoming, the Association chapters, the Association newsletter, and other activities of the organization. Gifts to the Annual Fund directly support the operating expenses of the college and are tax deductible.