Northwest Foundation reports successful FY21, awards record number of scholarships

Northwest students signed their names last spring to a banner thanking donors for their support of the University. The Northwest Foundation has announced that it set new fundraising marks during Fiscal Year 2021, which included the completion of its Forever Green fundraising campaign. (Northwest Missouri State University photo)

Northwest Foundation Inc., the fundraising arm of Northwest Missouri State University, again achieved a high level of scholarship distributions and secured $8.02 million in donor funding during Fiscal Year 2021, which ended June 30.

Scholarship support remains a central mission of the Foundation, which awarded nearly $1.2 million in financial assistance through 1,477 scholarships during FY21. With increases for the third consecutive year, the dollar amount represents the highest awarded in the history of the Foundation as well as the highest number of donor-funded scholarships awarded.

The Foundation’s success parallels with its Forever Green campaign, which launched publicly in 2019 with a goal of raising $45 million for University initiatives centered on academic excellence, scholarships, student life and other donor-directed gifts. The campaign closed June 30, and the University and Foundation announced during a July 30 formal celebration in the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse that it ended with an astounding $55,026,782 raised. The evening also celebrated the Northwest Foundation’s 50th anniversary.

Mitzi Marchant, the vice president of university advancement at Northwest and executive director of the Northwest Foundation, expressed her thanks to the thousands of donors and volunteers who supported the Forever Green campaign and bolstered opportunities for the University’s students.

“Whether you’re a graduate, a friend of the University, an employer of Bearcats, a parent or community member, I like to think the mere mention of Northwest creates some sort of favorable memory for each of us,” Marchant said. “We all see the value in ensuring Northwest remains a vibrant university for generations to come. The support shown during the Forever Green campaign is a promising sign the future does indeed remain bright for Northwest.”

Ninety-two percent of the total funds raised by the Foundation during FY21 were cash gifts, while a total of 4,529 donors contributed to Northwest initiatives. The Foundation’s total assets under management increased 14.5 percent to $45.67 million, while its endowment stands at more than $33 million. In FY21, the Foundation provided more than $9.4 million to the University as direct and indirect support of various needs.

“The success we had in the past year and throughout the Forever Green campaign was not only a testament to the hard work of the Northwest Foundation and the University Advancement team, but it was also a powerful statement of support demonstrated by our alumni, friends of Northwest, community, corporate partners and the state of Missouri,” said Dr. Bob Burrell, president of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors. “Thank you to all who supported Northwest by giving your time, your talent and your donations. We are forever grateful.”

Among the year’s highlights, Northwest opened its Agricultural Learning Center in July. Located on the 448-acre R.T. Wright Farm, the new 29,000-square-foot multipurpose facility helps enhance the School of Agricultural Sciences and its curriculum by providing laboratory, kitchen and exposition space as well as classrooms and offices while helping the School meet enrollment and program growth.

Further illustrating the Foundation’s growth in FY21, The 1905 Society, which recognizes supporters who make an annual unrestricted gift of $1,000 or more, counted 163 members. Meanwhile, the Foundation’s annual giving program raised about $465,000 in FY21, a 31 percent increase since FY20.

The Northwest Alumni Association drew more than 14,000 attendees to more than 120 engagement activities, despite the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the cancellation of numerous events. Northwest counts more than 80,000 alumni and friends of the University as members of the Northwest Alumni Association.

Additionally, last April, for the seventh consecutive year, Northwest students celebrated alumni and friends who contribute generously to the University in support of scholarships, campus facilities and the value of a college degree during “Thank a Donor Day.”

The Northwest Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, develops and stewards philanthropic resources for the benefit of the Northwest Missouri State University and its students. It is governed by a 37-member volunteer board and staffed by members of Northwest’s Office of University Advancement.

To make a gift to support Northwest, contact the Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248 or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/GiveOnline.