About FAR

Intelligent College Giving.

Close-up of stone columns at a historic university campus building

Since 1995, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) has championed academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability in higher education. To further these goals, ACTA established the Fund for Academic Renewal (FAR), a specialized program designed to give higher education donors confidence that their gifts advance the best in American universities, thanks to a generous 2015 grant from the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation.

FAR has since advised on $275 million in higher education giving. From regional institutions like Cumberland University to Ivy League campuses such as Yale University, FAR helps donors maximize the impact of their philanthropy through personalized consultation, careful review of gift agreements, and expert guidance through the complexities of university giving.

FAR is founded on a deep belief in the potential of America’s colleges and universities—and our mission is to help donors realize their pivotal role in their renewal.