Impact of Giving FY205-26

Thank you to everyone who supported the College between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.

Whether through regular gifts, one-off donations, unrestricted giving or participation in Binson Gives Month, donor support helped enhance opportunities for students across Robinson.

From financial support and wellbeing initiatives to outreach programmes, academic enrichment and improvements to the College environment, philanthropy continues to strengthen the Robinson experience.

Here are just some of the ways donor support made a difference this year.

Your Impact at a Glance

Area	Key Impacts
Financial Support	38 students received Hardship Bursaries totalling £53,900 11 Exceptional Opportunities Awards made
Wellbeing	New Wellbeing & Learning Strategy launched Weekly activities per term included Robinson Rambles, Yoga and Meet with Molly
Outreach	60% of Arts & Humanities Residential participants applied to Cambridge Programmes included Women in Science Festival and Residentials
Teaching	31.7% increase in direct Mathematics applications Take the Next STEP programme supported incoming students
Buildings	31,461 kWh of renewable electricity generated Essential works delivered ahead of major summer 2026 works
Binson Gives Month	£40,565 raised by 145 donors for an Anniversary Garden, Music and Sport Support helped enhance student life looking ahead to the 50th anniversary
Discretionary Fund	Flexible support enhanced the above areas and more Unrestricted giving helps the College respond where needed most

Financial Support

Donor support enhanced the College’s ability to provide timely assistance to students facing financial hardship, helping them remain fully engaged in their studies and College life. Exceptional Opportunities Awards also supported students to pursue international research placements, educational exchanges, entrepreneurial programmes and elite sporting opportunities. Philanthropy helped ensure that financial circumstances were not a barrier to participation, achievement or opportunity.
Wellbeing

Donor support helped enhance Robinson’s wellbeing provision, with particular emphasis on accessibility, neuro-inclusivity and early intervention. Enhanced support for neurodivergent students, proactive outreach to students with disabilities and greater access to specialist assessments contributed to a more supportive environment for learning and personal development. By helping the College invest further in wellbeing, donors are strengthening the support available to students as they navigate academic, personal and social challenges.
Outreach

Donor support enhanced Robinson’s outreach activities, events and residentials, helping talented young people experience Cambridge life first-hand. Following the 2025 Arts & Humanities Residential, 60% of participants applied to Cambridge and 25% received offers. Many participants described the experience as giving them the confidence and sense of belonging needed to apply. Philanthropy is helping to widen participation and encourage future generations of students to realise their potential.
Teaching

Through the Quantum Fund, donor support enhanced academic initiatives including the expanded Take the Next STEP programme and a funded residential for Mathematics offer holders from UK state schools. Students reported greater confidence, stronger preparation and a deeper sense of belonging before arriving at Cambridge. Philanthropy also helps Robinson attract and support outstanding academics, including Dr Tom Crawford and Dr Orsolya Petőcz, enriching the academic experience available to students.
Buildings

The College continues to invest significantly in its estate, while donor support helps enhance sustainability and the student experience. Robinson’s solar panels generated renewable electricity, contributing towards lower energy costs and the College’s sustainability ambitions. Looking ahead, summer 2026 will see major waterproofing works, refurbishment of the main kitchen and dining hall terrace, electrical upgrades and other essential improvements to help safeguard Robinson for future generations.
Binson Gives Month 2026

In March 2026, Binson Gives Month supported the Anniversary Garden, Music and Sport, alongside other College priorities. These projects will enhance student life for years to come while helping Robinson prepare for its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2027. Most importantly, the campaign demonstrated the collective impact of alumni, Fellows and friends coming together behind a shared purpose.
Discretionary Fund

Many donors choose to support Robinson through unrestricted giving, allowing the College to direct resources where they can have the greatest impact. During 2025-26, discretionary gifts enhanced work across student support, wellbeing, outreach, teaching and the College estate. They enabled the College to respond to emerging needs, support new opportunities and invest in priorities that may not fit within a specific fund. This flexibility remains one of the most valuable forms of philanthropic support.

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Financial Support

* 38 students received Hardship Bursaries totalling £53,900 * 11 Exceptional Opportunities Awards made
Wellbeing

* New Wellbeing & Learning Strategy launched * Weekly activities per term included Robinson Rambles, Yoga and Meet with Molly
Outreach

* 60% of Arts & Humanities Residential participants applied to Cambridge * Programmes included Women in Science Festival and Residentials
Teaching

* 31.7% increase in direct Mathematics applications * Take the Next STEP programme supported incoming students
Buildings

* 31,461 kWh of renewable electricity generated * Essential works delivered ahead of major summer 2026 works
Binson Gives Month 2026

* £40,565 raised by 145 donors for an Anniversary Garden, Music and Sport * Support helped enhance student life looking ahead to the 50th anniversary
Discretionary Fund

* Flexible support enhanced the above areas and more * Unrestricted giving helps the College respond where needed most

Helping students overcome financial barriers

Donor support enhanced the College’s ability to provide timely assistance to students facing financial hardship, helping them remain fully engaged in their studies and College life. Exceptional Opportunities Awards also supported students to pursue international research placements, educational exchanges, entrepreneurial programmes and elite sporting opportunities.

Philanthropy helped ensure that financial circumstances were not a barrier to participation, achievement or opportunity.

Strengthening support for student wellbeing

Donor support helped enhance Robinson’s wellbeing provision, with particular emphasis on accessibility, neuro-inclusivity and early intervention. Enhanced support for neurodivergent students, proactive outreach to students with disabilities and greater access to specialist assessments contributed to a more supportive environment for learning and personal development.

By helping the College invest further in wellbeing, donors are strengthening the support available to students as they navigate academic, personal and social challenges.

Inspiring the next generation

Donor support enhanced Robinson’s outreach activities, events and residentials, helping talented young people experience Cambridge life first-hand. Following the 2025 Arts & Humanities Residential, 60% of participants applied to Cambridge and 25% received offers.

Many participants described the experience as giving them the confidence and sense of belonging needed to apply. Philanthropy is helping to widen participation and encourage future generations of students to realise their potential.

Enhancing academic opportunity

Through the Quantum Fund, donor support enhanced academic initiatives including the expanded Take the Next STEP programme and a funded residential for Mathematics offer holders from UK state schools. Students reported greater confidence, stronger preparation and a deeper sense of belonging before arriving at Cambridge.

Philanthropy also helps Robinson attract and support outstanding academics, including Dr Tom Crawford and Dr Orsolya Petőcz, enriching the academic experience available to students.

Investing in Robinson's future

The College continues to invest significantly in its estate, while donor support helps enhance sustainability and the student experience. Robinson’s solar panels generated renewable electricity, contributing towards lower energy costs and the College’s sustainability ambitions.

Looking ahead, summer 2026 will see major waterproofing works, refurbishment of the main kitchen and dining hall terrace, electrical upgrades and other essential improvements to help safeguard Robinson for future generations.

A community coming together

In March 2026, Binson Gives Month supported the Anniversary Garden, Music and Sport, alongside other College priorities. These projects will enhance student life for years to come while helping Robinson prepare for its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2027.

Most importantly, the campaign demonstrated the collective impact of alumni, Fellows and friends coming together behind a shared purpose.

Supporting what matters most

Many donors choose to support Robinson through unrestricted giving, allowing the College to direct resources where they can have the greatest impact.

During 2025-26, discretionary gifts enhanced work across student support, wellbeing, outreach, teaching and the College estate. They enabled the College to respond to emerging needs, support new opportunities and invest in priorities that may not fit within a specific fund.

This flexibility remains one of the most valuable forms of philanthropic support.

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