Eastern Mennonite University donors continued to contribute with robust enthusiasm in fiscal year 2021-22. Philanthropic support totaled more than $5.7 million, an increase of 11 percent, according to Vice President for Advancement Kirk Shisler.
“We saw exceptional support for EMU’s Endowment Fund and in major gifts, all of which contributed to this growth in total philanthropic support,” said Shisler. “This kind of support is a real vote of confidence that our supporters have joined our mission to expand access so that more students will be prepared to serve and lead through our transformative educational opportunities.”
Among the highlights:
- Giving to EMU’s Endowment Fund, which supports scholarships and ensures the institution’s financial health, rose by $1.8 million. Nearly 450 donors contributed.
- University Fund support (unrestricted giving) included $1.73 million, just 2% shy of last year’s mark.
- EMU’s Jubilee Friends, those who have included EMU in their estate planning, increased to more than 600 members, with a total value of $34 million that will ultimately support student scholarships.
- LovEMU Giving Day 2022 was another record-breaking success. Approximately $295,000 was raised from 1,363 gifts — a difference of more than $14,500 and 346 new gifts over last year’s totals.
EMU has also secured several major leadership gifts for a new track and field complex, slated to begin construction in spring 2023. Total gifts and pledges are $2.5 million. [Read more about this project from EMU’s track coaches.]
“We are on schedule to meet our December 2022 goal of $3.3 million, with several additional leadership gift commitments in process,” Shisler said.
The university’s ‘21-22 results hold true to national philanthropic analyses: Across the United States, charitable giving remained strong. Giving USA 2022: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2021 reports that individuals, bequests, foundations and corporations gave an estimated $484.85 billion to U.S. charities in 2021.
“While we know that the effects of the pandemic have shifted so much for our alumni and donors, we’re also humbled by their dedication to EMU,” Shisler said. “It’s a testament to the loyalty of our alumni and friends – and to EMU’s compelling mission to prepare students to serve and lead in a global context”.
Wonderful news!