2024 Donor Impact Report

A Message from CAA’s Executive Director

Dear Cal Alums and Friends,

It is my pleasure to share the 2024 Donor Impact Report—a celebration of the generosity, engagement, and spirit that define our incredible community. Your support has made it possible for the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) to continue delivering high-impact programs that enrich the lives of students and alums alike.

This past year, your contributions supported our Alumni Scholars Program, awarding 212 new, deserving students across our five different scholarships, including recipients from more than 108 cities across California. Notably, The Leadership Award provided 134 new scholarships with a strong commitment to access in higher education:

• 100% of Leadership Award recipients are Pell Grant-eligible
• 68% are first-generation college students
• 55% come from underrepresented communities as identified by CAA*
• 65% are transfer students; 35% are first-years

This life-changing impact was made possible by the dedication of our volunteers. More than 550 alums—many of whom are recent graduates—participated in our scholarship selection process.

Your support also helped our 62 chartered Alumni Chapters thrive in 2024. Chapters hosted 94 events and 25 Summer Welcome Parties, welcoming 1,201 attendees, including 433 new students. Our unique chapter membership includes more than 16,000 alums, highlighting the breadth of our community and the importance of staying connected.

From our Cal Alumni Mentors program and Cal Discoveries Travel adventures to our award-winning California magazine and our expanding Graduate Wine Collective, CAA continues to be a vibrant hub for lifelong learning, meaningful relationships, and Golden Bears pride.

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished together in 2024—and even more excited for what’s ahead. On behalf of everyone at CAA, thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to the Cal community.

Fiat Lux and Go Bears!

Kirk C. Tramble ’93, MBA
Interim Executive Director

*Underrepresented communities include Black/African/African American, Chicanx/Latinx, Native American/Alaska Native, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander.

2024 by the Numbers

2024 by the numbers: 190,000 California magazine readers; 101,039 CAA members, 16,628 Alumni Chapter members, 10,030 Lair of the Golden Bear campers, 1,189 Cal Discoveries travelers, 243 Alumni Scholars, 337 Cal Alumni Mentors participants, 159 Graduate Wine Collective members, and 62 chartered Alumni Chapters.

Thank You, Donors

As we look back on 2024, we are once again inspired by the generosity and dedication of our incredible donor community. Your support has been the driving force behind our efforts, strengthening connections and bridging distances across our global network of alums. Whether you’re right here in the Bay Area or cheering us on from afar, you have made an impact that extends far beyond campus. Thanks to you, we’ve continued to build on our momentum and move our mission forward.

Without further ado, here are the key highlights of our fundraising efforts in 2024:

3,342 donors raised $2,954,720.00 in 2024. Our 2024 donors live in Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and 49 of 50 US states.

The CAA Fund Snapshot

2024 snapshot represents 1,496 total gifts to The CAA Fund. Total raised: $562,903 with a largest gift of $25,000. Donor alums represent class years 1947–2008.

Alumni Scholars Program Donor Snapshot

Alumni Scholars Program donor snapshot represents $2,931,817.00 raised through 447 gifts, with a largest gift of $2,000,000. Donor alums represent class years 1947–2008. Total gifts by award: $121,254 to The Leadership Award; $2,227,121 to The Achievement Award Program (TAAP); and $43,442 to the CAA Alumni Scholarship Fund.

Read on to learn how your gifts made an impact on campus and in our Cal community this past year. Thank you for your continued support.

Last year, 10,030 campers returned to the Lair of the Golden Bear for another season of adventure, laughter, and lifelong memories. With joyful reunions, spirited counselors, and time-honored traditions, the Lair once again became a home away from home. Campers of all ages embraced the magic of the mountains, creating new stories to treasure for years to come.

Campers traveled from states around the country to camp at the Lair, with some as far afield as Australia, China, Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Campers enjoyed everything from Disco Bingo and pickleball to campfires and ceramics—supported by an incredible staff that many cited as the highlight of their stay. Our fall and winter weekends gained popularity, offering cozy cabin getaways, family bonding, and even a star party with Professor Alex Filippenko. Oski Science Camp expanded to five sessions, bringing 6th-grade students to the the mountain, many for the first time, for immersive, nature-based learning. We hosted three joyful weddings, raised nearly $78,000 through our annual auction, and made major strides in constructing a new lodge and retreat center at Camp Oski. These milestones help ensure the Lair remains a vibrant, welcoming place for generations of Golden Bears to come.

Alumni Mentors Program

The Cal Alumni Mentors program continues to provide students who are first-generation or from, low-income, underrepresented, or underserved backgrounds with valuable guidance and support. Recruitment in 2024 was a tremendous success, with 155 mentors and 182 student mentees actively participating. Through meaningful mentor/mentee pairings, students connected with professionals from similar backgrounds, expanding their networks and gaining practical skills to navigate their time at Cal and their careers beyond the university.

Cal for All

In 2024, the Cal for All virtual speaker series continued to foster a more inclusive and engaged alumni community. This initiative brings together Berkeley alums and CAA’s Alumni Chapter leaders to explore topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ). Through insightful discussions and shared experiences, participants exchanged best practices and learned how alums are championing DEIBJ values in their work and within the broader Cal community.

Alumni Chapters

D.C. Chapter Honors a Distinguished Leader

On April 17, 2024, the Cal Alumni Club of Washington, D.C. held its 14th Annual Reception, celebrating its 2024 Distinguished Alumnus, Darryll J. Pines. Now president of the University of Maryland, College Park, and the Glenn L. Martin Professor of aerospace engineering, Pines has made a lasting impact on engineering education, emphasizing sustainability and service learning. Elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2019 for his “inspirational leadership and contributions to engineering education,” Pines holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley and an M.S. and Ph.D. from MIT.

A Winning Night in Westwood

The Cal Alumni of Los Angeles teamed up with the Cal Athletics Fund to host a spirited pregame reception before Cal Men’s Basketball’s road game at UCLA. More than 150 alums and fans gathered at Plateia Restaurant in the UCLA Luskin Conference Center, enjoying camaraderie, light appetizers, and plenty of Golden Bears pride. Attendees formed a Bear Walk tunnel, cheering the team on as they entered Pauley Pavilion, where the Bears delivered a 66-57 victory in their final Pac-12 road game in Los Angeles.

Interested in connecting with alums in your area?  Find your Alumni Chapter today.

CAA’s alumni travel program continued its remarkable post-pandemic resurgence in 2024, with Cal Discoveries Travel welcoming 1,403 travelers on 69 unforgettable journeys across the globe. Loyalty within our travel community remained strong, with 56% of participants returning for another adventure.

Traveler satisfaction soared, with overall tour ratings reaching 4.5 out of 5, and word-of-mouth enthusiasm driving 30% of new bookings through referrals from friends and family. In addition to awe-inspiring destinations, 87 enrichment lecturers and Cal Ambassadors joined our trips, elevating the experience with deep insights, engaging discussions, and a shared Cal spirit.

Our travelers had no shortage of praise for their experiences:

	“Outstanding! Astonishing! Stunning! … Perhaps the best part was sharing the experience with like-minded travelers who have become dear friends. I can’t wait to travel with them again!” —Helen C., Fremont, CA, on Finland: Arctic Magnificence
	“It was transformative to watch the grey wolves playing, sleeping off a fresh meal … This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” —Genevieve K., San Anselmo, CA, on The Wolves and Wildlife of Yellowstone
	“A trip of a lifetime where I met fascinating people, learned so much, and experienced totality of the solar eclipse.” —Vicky K., Albuquerque, NM, on Total Solar Eclipse: Texas
	“In decades of travel, one of the best group excursions I’ve experienced.” —Laura B., Illinois, on Taste of Crete: A Hands-On Study of Traditional Mediterranean Foods

The Cal Discoveries Difference

From cultural immersion in Morocco to breathtaking safaris in Southern Africa, Cal Discoveries Travel continues to create meaningful, enriching experiences for our alums.

4.5
Cal Discoveries guests’ average tour rating in 2024
(5 = Excellent, 4 = Very good, 3 = Good)

If you’re ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure with fellow Golden Bears, browse our upcoming trips today!

California magazine continues to set the bar for compelling storytelling and thought-provoking discussions. In 2024, the magazine earned several prestigious writing awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), including a Circle of Excellence Award for Editor-in-Chief Pat Joseph’s introduction to the Optimism Issue. Additional Best of District VII CASE Awards recognized editor Leah Worthington for “Shooting the Cabin” and freelance contributor Susan Karlin for her profile of Nobel Prize-winning NASA scientist and 2023 Alumnus of the Year, John Mather.

Live from California

Beyond the page, California Live! brought insightful conversations to BAMPFA with two sold-out events. In August, Professor Hany Farid explored the dangers of deepfakes in What if Seeing is No Longer Believing?, while March’s Will AI Be Humanity’s Last Act? featured Professor Stuart Russell’s expertise on artificial intelligence—an event that has since garnered more than 15,000 views on CAA’s YouTube channel.

Broadcasts from The Edge

The Edge podcast released two new episodes, racking up 2,096 downloads in 2024. Listen to The Edge online or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

From award-winning journalism to dynamic live events, California magazine continues to inform, engage, and connect the Cal community.

Our committed membership staff responded to more than 6,000 alumni inquiries in 2024. Membership staff represent the public face of CAA and are in constant contact with alums, providing a wide range of information on CAA, member benefits, and keeping alums connected to each other and the university.

CAA’s membership totaled 101,039 active members as of December 31, 2024, with 87,105 Life Members, 8,621 Golden Bears Life Members, 4,373 annual members, and 940 other members.

2024 Membership Revenue

Membership dues revenue totaled $1,213,450 in 2024: $202,305 from annual memberships, $258,395 from Life Membership installments, $577,950 from fully paid Life Memberships, and $174,800 from Golden Bears Life Membership upgrades.

Since 1934, CAA has supported more than 22,000 students through the Alumni Scholars Program, and awards more than $1 million to UC Berkeley undergraduate students annually. Our scholarships are highly competitive; we typically accept an average of 17% of applicants. We offer several opportunities: The Leadership Award, The Achievement Award Program (TAAP), the Cal Pride Scholarship, the Mildred Jordan Sharp Scholarship, and the Cal Alumni Association Native American Scholarship.

“By investing in education, alumni empower individuals to pursue their dreams, contribute to society, and uphold the excellence of the institution. Alumni support fosters a strong legacy of academic achievement and social impact, nurturing future leaders.”

—Nishi Kaur, Mildred Jordan Sharp Scholarship Recipient

CAA appreciates the alumni volunteers and donors who support the Alumni Scholars Program. During the 2024 selections season, more than 550 alumni volunteers participated in application reviews and one-on-one interviews, and 212 students received scholarship awards for the 2024–25 academic year.

This year we welcomed 134 new Leadership Award recipients with 65% transfers and 35% first-years. The Leadership Award is a multi-year, auto-renewable scholarship, supporting visionary, innovative, and inspiring leaders. Scholars demonstrate their curiosity, creativity, and passion within their communities.

“I am truly inspired by the opportunities this scholarship has afforded me, and I am committed to using my education to make a meaningful impact. Thank you again for your support and for believing in my potential.”

—Sean Lu, Leadership Award Recipient

The Achievement Award Program currently serves a total of 66 scholars, with a staff to student ratio of no more than 1:35. This supports us in meeting consistently with our scholars and ensuring quality relationship building. The impact of TAAP is evident from our student’s successes and experiences. We continue to have a 97% graduation rate.

“The exposure to alumni helped broaden my perspective towards the opportunities available at Cal. It was inspiring to see their journeys and achievements.”

—Achievement Award Recipient

Now in its fourth year, CAA’s Graduate Wine Collective continues to showcase exceptional wines exclusively from wineries founded, owned, or operated by Cal alums. With more than 100 wineries rooted in the Cal community, the collective proudly supports Golden Bears making their mark in the wine industry.

Members enjoy three curated shipments per year, complete with tasting notes and recipe pairings, with costs ranging from $150 to $175. Every purchase directly supports CAA programs that benefit alums and students.

Selections are shaped by feedback from CAA and wine club members at annual blind-tasting events, ensuring a truly community-driven experience. The club also partners with on-campus groups to host wine tastings, celebrating the incredible Cal alums behind these wines.

To the incredible alums, students, volunteers, and donors who made all of this possible in 2024: your generosity and dedication have been truly invaluable, and we are immensely grateful for your support. Together, we continue to strengthen the bonds between alums, students, and the UC Berkeley community, ensuring that our shared legacy thrives for generations to come.

Fiat Lux and Go Bears!