Examines fears of small private colleges that major fund raising campaigns of large public universities will hamper their own fund raising efforts. Gives the example of Pennsylvania State University and the 86 small, private colleges also in Pennsylvania. Shows that trends in both private and corporate giving increasingly favor public research…

Contrasts the reactions of Swarthmore College and Pennsylvania State University as the endowments at both institutions topped the billion dollar mark in 2000. Swarthmore uses its endowment to assure that financial need is never considered in admissions decisions, but does not touch the principal. At Pennsylvania State, tuition is more affordable,…

An unprecedented wave of private donations was pledged to college and universities in fiscal 1998; the total amount of gifts is up 15%. Donations to public master's universities and private liberal arts colleges have increased the most. Nothing in the performance of either group foreshadowed the growth in donations. (MSE)