More than 41,400 donors contributed $154.3 million in total philanthropic activity to benefit Washington State University during Fiscal Year 2022, which ended June 30, marking the strongest single year of fundraising in WSU’s 132-year history.
“The level of commitment to advance WSU’s mission demonstrated by each of our generous alumni, friends, and organizational partners this year is inspiring,” said Mike Connell, vice president of WSU Advancement and CEO of the WSU Foundation. “Support for WSU has never been stronger. Every gift—large and small—is an investment in WSU’s future, opening doors, igniting ingenuity, and making impact throughout our state and beyond.”
In all, donors generously supported 1,905 different projects, initiatives, or funds system-wide, benefitting 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.
“Everyone across the entire WSU system benefits in some way from the generosity of WSU’s alumni, friends, faculty, staff, students, and other partners,” said WSU system president Kirk Schulz. “These investments create opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to make a difference in the communities this land-grand university serves throughout the state. The record levels of support this past fiscal year speak about the role WSU plays in transforming lives and making our world a better place for us all to work and live.”
A record $23 million was also distributed from the WSU Foundation’s endowment during the fiscal year to support student scholarships, faculty positions, research, and outreach programs system-wide.
A few highlights from across WSU Advancement during FY22 included:
- Record-setting gift: Edmund and Beatriz Schweitzer along with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) awarded a $20 million gift to support WSU’s Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. At $10 million apiece, the Schweitzers and SEL are each contributing toward the construction of the college’s new student success building on WSU’s Pullman campus.
- Rural Health Initiative: Helping to launch a Rural Health Initiative at WSU’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) at the university’s Spokane campus, an anonymous gift of $2.2 million was announced in March. It will increase opportunities for PharmD students to focus on the health care needs of residents in rural Washington. The gift has helped to launch a 10-year plan to create opportunities for student pharmacists and post-graduate pharmacists to specialize in delivery of rural health care.
- #CougsGive: WSU’s annual day of giving, #CougsGive, saw record-setting donor impact April 13, with a new high total of $791,211 contributed from 1,315 gifts on the day—a 12.2% increase over 2021’s previous total. Since 2015, #CougsGive has blossomed into a featured celebration of philanthropy across the WSU system. Overall, donors have given more than $3.4 million during #CougsGive events.
To learn more about supporting WSU, visit give.wsu.edu.
