Washington State University hosts fundraising for 2nd year in a row
For the second consecutive year, Washington State University achieved a new high-water mark with more than $167.9 million in philanthropic activity during Fiscal Year 2023, which ended June 30. This represents over eight percent growth in philanthropic support for WSU over last year’s then-record total.
“This unprecedented level of support is a testament to the generosity and vision of our alumni, friends, faculty, staff, students and other partners,” said WSU system President Kirk Schulz. “It is also a reflection of the university’s mission to make higher education more affordable, accessible and attainable for our students and to advance discoveries and programs that benefit the communities we proudly serve.”
Donors supported over a thousand different projects, initiatives, and funds system-wide, benefiting academic, research, and outreach efforts in every college and at each of the university’s six campuses as well as research and extension centers across the state.
In addition, $24.8 million generated through the WSU Foundation’s endowment, which has grown to over $660 million, was distributed during FY2023 to support scholarships, faculty positions, research, and outreach programs across the WSU system.
“On behalf of the entire WSU community, we thank the tens of thousands generous alumni, friends and industry partners who continue to invest generously in WSU’s students, faculty, staff, research and programs throughout the state and beyond,” said Mike Connell, vice president of WSU Advancement and CEO of the WSU Foundation. “Back-to-back record years of philanthropic activity signal positive momentum as our donors and volunteers believe in the power of higher education to improve lives across the state of Washington and beyond.”
A few fundraising highlights from across WSU during FY23:
New engineering student success center: A $5 million investment from The Boeing Company will establish a new student success center in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture’s Schweitzer Engineering Hall on the Pullman campus.
New pediatric residency: Providence Inland Northwest Washington and several partners joined together with WSU to establish eastern Washington’s first pediatric medical residency. The program promises not only to improve the depth and breadth of overall children’s healthcare in Spokane, but also to foster aspiring physicians from the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and other medical schools.
STEM education and research at WSU Vancouver: $1 million philanthropic investment by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe will advance life sciences and STEM education at WSU Vancouver, benefitting students, research, and outreach in southwest Washington. The commitment made by the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation will be used in the construction of a state-of-the-art greenhouse as part of the campus’ Life Science Building project.
Naming of Center for Arts and Humanities: A generous philanthropic investment in the Center for Arts and Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences from alum David Pollart supports new educational programs, research, and creative activity. In recognition of this transformational support, the center is named the David G. Pollart Center for Arts and Humanities.