Frequently Asked Questions

  • Will my gift make a difference?

    Absolutely! Each year, donors make over 3,000 gifts to Pitzer. Contributions from all members of the Pitzer community, whether the donations are large or small, make a huge collective difference and provides the foundation Pitzer needs to thrive.

    The percentage of alumni that give back to their college influences the U.S. News & World Report when determining a college’s rankings. Corporations and foundations also consider the number of people, especially the percentage of alumni, faculty, and staff, who give back as a basis to determine whether we are a worthwhile investment. Your support at ANY level makes a difference to Pitzer College and our current students!

  • Can I pay in installments?

    Yes! The easiest way to give in installments is to provide us with your credit/debit card information, and we will automatically process your gift monthly, quarterly, or however you’d prefer. It’s fast, easy, and you don’t have to worry about sending anything in. For additional information, please contact the Advancement Office at 909.621.8130 or 877.357.7479 or by email at [email protected]. You can also set up installments using our online giving form. 

  • What is the Pitzer Fund, and why does it matter?

    When choosing to give to the Pitzer Fund, you are making an “unrestricted” gift—in other words, you are giving money that is available to Pitzer for any necessary use over the course of the year. On an annual basis, the Pitzer Fund covers the budget essential for Pitzer to operate. A robust Pitzer Fund means greater freedom for Pitzer to pursue exciting and important initiatives.

    The Pitzer Fund supports every student, program, field group, professor, and staff member on campus. When you give to the Pitzer Fund, you provide support for student/faculty research, Career Services, athletics, financial aid, and much more!

    The impact of your individual Pitzer Fund gift is multiplied when it’s combined with the gifts of thousands of other donors who provide for the College in the same way. Every gift to the Pitzer Fund is vital for Pitzer to continue to thrive year after year.

    Please consider supporting the College through the Pitzer Fund today!

  • How does giving to Pitzer impact scholarships and financial aid?

    Pitzer students graduate with an average of 40 percent less student loan debt than the national average. Additionally, over 40 percent of students at Pitzer receive need-based financial aid. This is made possible through the generosity of Pitzer donors. There are many different initiatives that support Pitzer scholarships and financial aid:

    • The Pitzer Fund is our unrestricted fund, which supports the critical needs of Pitzer College. One of the most important areas that the Pitzer Fund covers is financial aid. By giving to the Pitzer Fund, you help to relieve financial stress on the College and free up more funds to increase Pitzer’s financial aid output.
    • The Pitzer Annual Scholarship Fund is our general scholarship fund to support financial aid each year.
  • Is a gift to Pitzer College tax-deductible?

    Yes, Pitzer is a 501(c)3 organization, and all gifts to the Pitzer Fund are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. For tax purposes, we will send you a receipt as soon as we process your check or online gift.

  • As an account manager at Pitzer College, how do I access spendable fundraised dollars, as well as find out my account balances?

    The Office of College Advancement is responsible for raising money and the subsequent stewardship of those donated funds. Upon request, Advancement can provide you a summary report of dollars raised for a specific fund. To access such details, please contact:

    Carol Holtrust
    Director of Advancement Services
    Broad Center 101
    909.607.4670
    [email protected]

    The Office of the Treasurer supplies information regarding account or fund balances, expenses drawn against a particular fund, and projected endowment spending for a given year. To access those details, please contact:

    Pamela Mader
    Assistant Vice President for Finance
    McConnell 313
    909.607.3668
    [email protected]

    It is important to note that fundraising amounts provided by Advancement might not exactly match the amounts the Finance Office has on file (e.g., a particular initiative could be funded by fund-raised dollars plus Pitzer College operating dollars).

    Accounts involving consortium-related transfers (e.g. Pomona-Pitzer Athletics), should follow the same process detailed above.