Over the past nine months, alumni have given more than $50,000 to the Collegian Alumni Interest Group Sustaining Fund. That generosity matters — not just because of the dollars raised, but because of what it represents: belief in the enduring value of independent student journalism.
The Collegian has always been more than a campus newspaper. It is a training ground for ethical journalists, a platform for student voices, and a living part of Penn State’s civic culture. But like independent news organizations everywhere, it now operates in a far more challenging financial environment.
That’s why we are focused on building a sustainability endowment. This is not a short-term fix, but a permanent foundation. Endowments are designed to preserve principal and generate income over time, creating stability that doesn’t depend on annual crisis fundraising. In simple terms: this is about building permanence.
The Collegian Alumni Interest Group Sustaining Fund is managed by the Penn State Alumni Association and invested in the University’s Long-Term Investment Pool — a diversified portfolio designed to support steady growth while preserving the real (inflation-adjusted) value of gifts in perpetuity. As the endowment grows, so does its impact: The more we raise, the more annual support we will have available to invest directly in the student staff and operations of the Collegian.
Every gift matters. Large gifts help accelerate progress, but broad alumni participation builds legitimacy, momentum, and shared ownership. Alumni can also choose to make a modest recurring gift that is automatically deducted from a monthly credit card bill, making it an easy and meaningful way to support the endowment over time. Together, these commitments create something lasting.
This effort is not about saving the Collegian for this year. It’s about ensuring it exists as an independent, strong, and student-led news organization many years from now.
If you believe the Collegian should continue to serve students and the Penn State community for generations to come, I invite you to consider making a gift to the Collegian Sustainability Endowment today.
Thank you to every alum who has already contributed and to those who continue to believe that the Collegian’s future is worth investing in. What we’re building isn’t just a fund. It is a legacy of stewardship across generations.
Robyn Radomski
President Board of Directors
Daily Collegian Alumni Interest Group
~ GIVE TO THE Collegian AIG Sustaining Fund.
