PHILANTHROPY (fì-lan´thro-pe) n. [Greek: philos, loving + anthropos, mankind] 1. A desire to help mankind, esp. as shown by gifts to charitable or humanitarian institutions; benevolence 2. A philanthropic act or gift or an organization distributing or supported by philanthropic funds.

Tuition and fees cover 82% of the cost of a Skidmore education. The remainder of the funds needed to run the College must be raised through the support of Alumni and friends of Skidmore each year. The Skidmore Annual Fund provides the funds that the College needs each year to bridge the gap between revenue from tuition and the actual daily expense to keep the school running.

The Senior Gift program began in 1999 and provides each senior class the opportunity to present a $10,000 scholarship to a fellow student.  With the help of nearly 80 student volunteers, the senior class strives to reach a certain participation goal; if that goal is reached (no matter the dollar amount raised), two Skidmore Trustees personally make up the difference to $10,000.  In the fall after the seniors graduate, a rising senior is awarded the Senior Gift Scholarship and the class can follow the progress of "their student" throughout the year.  The current participation record of 93.6% was set by the Class of 2006.

Did you know?

For the '06-'07 school year:

• Tuition, Room, and Board = $44,250
• Financial aid (total) = $22 million
• Student/faculty ratio = 9:1
• Operating budget = $111 million
• Endowment = $222 million
• Annual Fund total raised = $6.2 million
• Annual Fund Alumni supporters = 8,934