Testimonial
As an alumnus of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, Onno Ruding is happy to be able to support his university. In 2016, the former banker and former minister of finance founded the Onno Ruding Fund, a named fund within the Erasmus Trustfonds. Ruding: “The fund supports cancer research at the medical faculty, and research and education in macro economics at the faculty of economics.”
In addition to his contributions via his own fund, Ruding also stimulates others to give (back) to the university. “I’m very happy to invite other individuals to make a contribution. Together, we make sure that the Erasmus University Rotterdam can continue to realize its ambitions.”
Giving back to the university
Ruding has spent many years living and working in the United States. “I noticed how motivated alumni were to contribute to their alma mater. Some do so early in their careers, others later, or in their wills. For Americans, it’s normal to give back to society once they’re successful. Many prefer to do so through the institutions that partially helped them establish their careers.”
Individual donations are very important, according to Ruding. “A top-tier university like the Erasmus University Rotterdam needs extra money to exceed the possibilities of government funding alone. This is the only way that Rotterdam academics can exceed expectations and reach their full potential, making truly significant contributions to science and today’s societal challenges.”
