Carleton offers many naming opportunities for endowed and current-use funds, including:
Scholarships
Scholarship support provides need-based aid to students. To provide maximum financial aid to all students in need, Carleton does not offer merit scholarships. Comprehensive costs for the 2022-2023 year are $78,624. For Class of 2026 students, the average need-based financial aid award is $62,000. This support is critical to maintaining a diverse and gifted student body.
Endowed Funds
- $1,000,000 – Tuition support for one or more students
- $500,000 – Partial tuition support for one or more students
- $250,000 – Named fund, with preferences (e.g. geographic origin, field of study, etc.)
- $100,000 – Named fund, with no preferences
Annual, Current-Use Funds
- $50,000 – Tuition support for one student
- $10,000 – Named fund, with preferences
- $5,000 – Named fund, with no preferences
Internships and Support for Life and Careers
Internships give students valuable real-world experience, which is critical in today’s hiring market. Other experiential learning opportunities such as externships, fellowships, and research assistantships—as well as as global and local engagements through Off-Campus Studies programs and the Center for Community and Civic Engagement—help students explore their options and open avenues to future careers.
Unfortunately, travel costs, housing costs, and forgone wages can often discourage many students from applying. Carleton believes all students, regardless of financial circumstances, deserve to have access to these learning opportunities to prepare for meaningful, successful lives and careers.
Endowed funds begin at $100,000.
Campus Buildings
As Carleton continues to thrive and grow, new facilities must be built to keep up with that growth. Gifts directed to campus facilities are a unique way to help shape the landscape of Carleton and provide new opportunities for study, housing, and recreation that will benefit generations of students to come.
Other Opportunities
Endowed Funds
- $1,000,000-$3,000,000 – Endowed professorships
Full endowed professorships provide recognition and support for superb educators, who help sustain Carleton’s tradition of teaching excellence. Visiting professorships provide resources to support faculty leaves, and faculty program leader positions support essential initiatives such as Ethical Inquiry at Carleton (EthIC) and Quantitative Inquiry, Reasoning, and Knowledge (QUIRK). - $250,000 – Convocation funds
Covers expenses for a convocation, including speaker fees, travel, etc. $2,000,000 endows a full term of convocations. - $100,000 – Department discretionary funds
Provides general support for departmental activities. - $100,000 – Program discretionary funds
Provides general support for programmatic activities like the Career Center, Center for Community and Civic Engagement, etc. - $50,000 – Faculty development grants
Provides incremental support for special projects, professional development, and other activities proposed by faculty. - $10,000 – Library resource funds
No longer just about books, library resource funds enable the library to maintain a relevant educational resource on campus. Funds may be restricted by topic, but include any type of resource including books, e-resources, periodicals, or other learning tools.
For more information about any of these opportunities, please contact the Office of Development. Special projects not listed here may also be discussed on a case-by-case basis by contacting our office.
Physical Memorials
Specific opportunities to honor Carleton alumni and friends through physical memorials are available and are based on the needs of the campus. Carleton works closely with family members or friends to determine the best designation for such gifts. Examples of past memorial projects include outdoor classrooms, gardens, and seating areas, as well as unique projects such as athletic scoreboards. Carleton also offers a memorial tree program; please contact the Office of Stewardship for information.
Physical memorials start at $10,000.