"Colleges and universities are actively encouraging donors to contribute directly to education rather than asking for big gifts toward buildings and programs," The Wall Street Journal reports. "The economic downturn is causing schools to refocus their fund-raising campaigns more on financial aid, scholarships or a school's general fund, which is typically used for a university's most pressing needs and often directed toward student aid. While many colleges say it's too early to assess the economy's impact on increased aid, many have seen families struggling."