CAS Dean’s Fund

Invest Where It Matters Most: The CAS Dean’s Fund

The College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Fund is the Dean’s most flexible, strategic resource—supporting students, faculty, and academic innovation across the College as needs and opportunities arise.

From strengthening student access and success to advancing teaching and research, the Dean’s Fund allows Arts & Sciences to act quickly and thoughtfully—investing when funding is needed most and investing where funding can make the greatest difference.

Your gift to Arts & Sciences on BU Giving Day strengthens the liberal arts foundation that powers discovery, creativity, and critical thinking across more than 50 departments, centers, and institutes. When you give to the Dean’s Fund, you’re investing in what matters most right now—helping to strengthen the College today and shape its future.

“I find myself especially drawn to institutions and programs that help people make the most of their potential. That’s one reason I’m proud to support CAS—and especially Dean Sclaroff’s vision for a college where students can pair a strong academic foundation with meaningful real-world experience.”
— Jeanne Curtis, Esq. (CAS'87, LAW'91)

Why the Dean’s Fund Matters

Because it is not restricted to a single program or purpose, the CAS Dean’s Fund gives the Dean the ability to respond to urgent needs and emerging opportunities across the College.

Your support helps Arts & Sciences:

• Strengthen student support and access when needs are time-sensitive
• Seed new academic and research initiatives with the potential for lasting impact
• Support teaching innovation and high-impact learning experiences
• Respond quickly to opportunities across departments and programs

This flexibility is what makes the Dean’s Fund such a powerful catalyst for progress.

Your Impact

Every gift—at every level—makes a difference. Through the CAS Dean’s Fund, your support can help make the following possible:

• $25 helps cover time-sensitive student needs and learning materials
• $50 helps reduce barriers to participation in academic enrichment
• $100 helps support student engagement, events, and program needs
• $250 helps unlock a student opportunity—research, travel, or professional development
• $500 helps support a timely student or academic initiative when flexibility matters
• $1,000 helps seed a high-impact opportunity across the College
• $2,500 helps advance priority areas such as student access, engagement, or teaching innovation
• $5,000 helps the Dean respond quickly to major opportunities and needs across Arts & Sciences

When you give to the CAS Dean’s Fund on Giving Day, you help Arts & Sciences move quickly, invest strategically, and support students and faculty when it matters most.

"I support the CAS Dean’s Discretionary Fund because it allows my philanthropy to address pressing priorities of the Dean and promising opportunities for CAS students. I know my gift is helping sustain excellence, equity, and innovation at the heart of the College."
— Ernie Joseph Marquart (CAS'86)

Make Your Gift Go Further: Matches & Challenges

Giving Day is designed to build momentum. Throughout the day, Arts & Sciences programs compete for bonus funds and matching gifts that unlock additional support.

CAS Dean’s Fund Donor Challenge

The CAS Dean's Fund will receive an additional $5,000 once it reaches 30 donors. This challenge is generously sponsored by Bruce Karatz (CAS'67.)

CAS Dean’s Fund Matching Challenge

All gifts to the CAS Dean’s Fund will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $17,620. This challenge is generously sponsored by Ernie Marquart (CAS’86), Jeanne Curtis (CAS’87, LAW’91), and Kevin Michael Nichols (CAS’01, CGS’98).

Check the Matches & Challenges section of this page for additional opportunities and real-time progress.

“I give to Boston University because my time there was truly formative—BU challenged me academically, expanded my perspective, and connected me with mentors and peers who helped shape both my personal growth and professional path…. My support is also an investment in BU’s future. By giving back, I’m helping ensure that current and future students can benefit from the same high-quality education and experiences that meant so much to me—through scholarships, academic programs, faculty excellence, and the resources that keep the University thriving.”
— Kevin Nichols (CAS'01, CGS'98)