In the US, for example, more than half of the funding for public universities in the US comes from government sources. However, there is a long tradition of private groups and philanthropists providing financial support to higher education. In 2004 alone, individuals in the US donated some US $ 24.4 billion to colleges and universities.
以美國為例，美國公立大學的教育經費半數以上同樣來自政府撥款，但社會團體、慈善家「金援」高等教育的社會風氣存在已久，光是 2004 年，美國私人捐助大學的金額就高達 244 億美元。