More than 7,900 Pomona College alumni, families and friends gave a record $82.8 million in gifts and pledges this past year—breaking all fundraising records in the institution’s 138-year history. This marks the second consecutive year that Sagehen support reached record levels and represents a 44 percent increase over last year’s historic fundraising total of $57 million.
“These gifts impact almost every aspect of what makes a rigorous and holistic education at the College possible,” says Maria Watson, vice president for advancement at Pomona. “We are thankful for the extraordinary generosity of our Pomona community. We also want to recognize our volunteers for their investment of time and dedication to Pomona, as they have been critical to this success.”
Philanthropic support from the Sagehen community continues to move Pomona forward as a leader in liberal arts education and bolsters the College’s strategic initiatives across three pillars.
- Equity and access initiatives broaden opportunities by bolstering student financial support, including financial aid for middle-income students and universal access to course materials.
- Transformative knowledge and creativity efforts focus on initiatives that strengthen academic and faculty excellence, including building the Center for Global Engagement, adding endowed faculty positions and launching Global Gateway programs—new, flexible faculty-led study away opportunities that will make experiential learning even more accessible to more Pomona students.
- Flourishing and inclusion initiatives help foster a thriving community that is committed to sustainable achievement. Efforts include the Center for Athletics, Recreation and Wellness (CARW), which opened in 2022, as well as new health and wellness programs for the entire campus community.
Sagehen support throughout the fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2025, funded Global Gateway programs, the Pomona College Internship Program and the Summer Undergraduate Research Program, which enabled more than 200 students to participate in faculty-mentored research experiences this summer.
“This record-breaking fundraising year reflects the unwavering commitment of our community to the values and vision of Pomona College,” says Janet Inskeep Benton ’79, chair of Pomona’s Board of Trustees. “We are deeply grateful to President Gabrielle Starr, whose bold vision and steadfast leadership continue to chart a dynamic and forward-looking course for the institution, to Maria Watson for her expertise and strategic guidance of our best-in-class advancement team, and to the broader Pomona community of alumni, families and friends who have made this milestone possible.”