Harvard University has witnessed an extraordinary surge in alumni donations following a fierce rebuke from University President Alan M. Garber against U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to cut federal funding. As reported by The Harvard Crimson, the institution received nearly $1.14 million in just two days after Garber’s email on Monday, which directly challenged the White House’s proposed $2.2 billion funding cut.
Between Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning, Harvard received nearly 4,000 online donations, with an impressive 88 donations per hour. The surge comes in the wake of increasing financial pressures on the university, including Trump’s $2.2 billion cut in funding. This financial boost, though small compared to the university’s total yearly donations, marks a notable rally from Harvard’s alumni network.
Unprecedented surge in donations
Following Garber’s stern message to alumni on Monday, Harvard saw donations skyrocket. According to The Harvard Crimson, donations exceeded 1,000 gifts on the very next day, a sharp contrast to the mere 37 donations received on Sunday, October 15, 2023. By Monday evening, when President Trump made his controversial announcement of the funding cut, nearly 1,000 online gifts were recorded between 8 p.m. and midnight — an average of more than 200 donations per hour.
The influx was not only large in volume but also in speed. By 1 p.m. on Monday, just hours after Garber’s message, 450 individual gifts had been made, surpassing the total number of donations from the previous week, The Harvard Crimson reported.
The donations primarily came from smaller donors. Forty-seven percent of the gifts were directed to the Harvard College Fund, and 77 percent of them were for less than $250. These figures highlight the strong sentiment among Harvard alumni, showing that small-dollar donors were especially motivated by Garber’s bold stand against the funding cut.
Pressure on Harvard mounts
The surge in donations to Harvard comes at a time when the university is facing a significant financial challenge. In addition to the $2.2 billion funding cut announced by President Trump, there are increasing concerns that Harvard may lose its tax-exempt status and its ability to enrol international students. As reported by The Harvard Crimson, this pressure follows months of tension regarding the university’s response to accusations of antisemitism after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
Despite these challenges, the recent wave of donations is a testament to the resilience of the university’s alumni community. While no large donors have yet indicated a return, the small but consistent support could provide a much-needed buffer against the looming financial cuts.
