On 19-20 February, the St John’s community came together once again for our second Giving Day, demonstrating the extraordinary power of collective generosity. Over the course of 36 hours, 897 donors, including you, pledged an incredible £493,305. Thanks to matched funding, this total has now grown to £947,832.
Click here to watch a special thank you from the Master
To all those who contributed to our Giving Day, please accept our sincere thanks for your generous gift. Your generosity ensures that St John’s remains a place where every student, regardless of background, has the chance to thrive. Whether this was your first time giving or one of many, your support is making a lasting impact, helping to ensure that ambition is never limited by financial circumstances.
This year’s Giving Day supported two key initiatives: the Dobson Free Places Fund and the Lady Margaret Boat Club (LMBC) Bicentenary Appeal.
The Dobson Free Places Fund will sustain 40 free places across the College at any one time for talented UK students from low-income backgrounds, covering all tuition fees and maintenance costs. This comprehensive support will be life changing for many young people who are considering accepting a place here. Already, seven students have joined St John’s through this initiative, students who, without this support, may never have had the opportunity to study at the University of Cambridge.
Thanks to your generosity, we are one step closer to achieving our £25 million goal to secure fully funded places in perpetuity, ensuring that generations of students will benefit. With matched funding available for all gifts to the Dobson Free Places Fund, your donations are having twice the impact, paving the way for an even brighter future.
Giving day is also supporting the LMBC Bicentenary Appeal, which is paving the way for a much-needed boathouse redevelopment. With more than 100 students rowing each year, the LMBC is at the heart of sporting life at St John’s. With the support of the Giving Day pledges, this historic club will continue to thrive, providing better training facilities for students today and into the future, just as it has for the past two centuries
Beyond the numbers, your heartfelt messages on the Donor Wall made this Giving Day even more special. It’s clear that Giving Day is about more than just fundraising; it is about a shared belief in the power of education.
Over fifty years ago, St John’s gave me a place, a comprehensive school student from a poor background. It was life-changing. In different times, it’s heartening that similar candidates will have similar opportunities through access to the free places fund –Christopher Brain (1973)
We are deeply grateful for your continued support. Every gift makes St John’s a more accessible and enriching environment in which our students are challenged and supported to realise their full potential
We look forward to celebrating with you again at our next Giving Day. Until then, thank you for believing in our students, investing in their futures, and being part of something truly special.