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Recognition

Our tradition of academic excellence is underpinned by the generous support of members and friends, and we like to show our gratitude.

Each year the names of our donors are published in The Jesuan magazine (requests for anonymity are respected), capital gifts offer naming opportunities, and those who have included the College in their Will are invited to join the 1496 Society.

We mark acts of outstanding generosity with admission to the Society of St Radegund or election to a St Radegund Fellowship.

Our donor promise

Â鶹ԭ´´ was established in 1496 by the Bishop of Ely, John Alcock. Since then we have grown largely thanks to philanthropic support from our Masters, Fellows, alumni and friends. Their gifts, which are celebrated by the College at the Commemoration of Benefactors each year, have enabled us to thrive over the centuries.

This support is vital, and we're committed to treating all of our donors with the utmost consideration and respect.

If, in the opinion of College Council, a proposed donation may conflict with the College’s value or aims, we'll discuss this with the donor and such a gift may not be accepted. We'll only ask for gifts that are compatible with the purpose of the College as defined in its statutes, and which fall within the College's mission and strategic plan.

When a gift is received by the College, regardless of size, we will:

  1. Acknowledge every gift swiftly, and provide appropriate recognition and publicity. If a donor wishes to give anonymously, this will be respected.
  2. Apply the donation to the purpose specified by the donor (subject to it being accepted for that purpose by College Council). All donations are examined by both the College’s Finance Office and its auditors on an annual basis. Unrestricted funds will be used by the College for its current priorities, as determined by College Council.
  3. Keep donors informed about the impact of their gift and the progress of the College’s fundraising more generally.

Hear from our alumni

  • Rafi Levy and Max Turner

    Rafi Levy and Max Turner

    Computer Science (2019) and Architecture and Urban Design (2019)

    We first met in 2021 when we joined the May Ball committee as webmaster and graphic designer. We spent a lot of time together that year, working closely to create a graphic scheme and build a website for the event. Even though it was a lot of hard work and very stressful at times, we are so grateful to have been part of it as it is thanks to that opportunity that we became great friends. A couple of years later, we are still great friends and now have a...

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    Computer Science (2019) and Architecture and Urban Design (2019)
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    Lene Northwood

    Criminology (1996)

    As a person who grew up on the opposite side of the planet to a family that had no history of attending university, the idea of me attending Cambridge was, quite frankly, laughable. Then I fell in love with Criminology and wrote a thesis that caught the attention of the College. It is just one example of the incredibly outward looking approach that, in the decades that I have known the College, has defined Â鶹ԭ´´. One letter with a now familiar letterhead, quite literally raised my expectations of life...

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    Criminology (1996)
  • Mark and Janet Hayes

    Mark Hayes and Janet Livesley

    Architecture (1976) and Architecture (1980)

    We first met in 1980 when Mark returned to Jesus to study for the postgraduate diploma in Architecture and Janet joined the college on the same course. Graduate dinners in Upper Hall were a highlight of the week and an opportunity to meet socially with other Jesuans. Part of our studies included trips to Zambia and an earthquake-hit area in Southern Italy. We were married in the College Chapel just after completing our studies in the summer of 1982 and remained in Cambridge for a period following Mark’s election to...

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    Architecture (1976) and Architecture (1980)
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    John Arrastia

    Law (1995)

    I came to Cambridge at the suggestion of a Professor who was visiting the US. I borrowed the funds to study there. What appealed to me at Jesus was that it was so inclusive and embracing. I played golf with the Porters and rugby with the staff. I dined with the other students, socialised with the Fellows, danced with the Master’s wife, and really got to know people. My friends and colleagues were engineers, doctors, politicians, religious scholars, undergrads, lawyers, professors – basically every stripe of humanity one could find...

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    Law (1995)
  • Ilana Cohen

    Ilana Cohen

    Human, Social and Political Sciences (2022)

    I arrived at Â鶹ԭ´´ in 2022 as a Harvard Social Studies Exchange student. Initially, I was compelled to pursue the program due to the academic freedom it offered, excited to work closely with leading thinkers in self-directed studies around climate change ethics. Upon starting at Jesus, though, I realised that I also gained the opportunity to join an incredible community of wonderfully eclectic and deeply welcoming scholars and peers. My Jesus experience was also formative for me as a climate justice activist. Sharing knowledge and building relationships with Cambridge...

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    Human, Social and Political Sciences (2022)