Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University is shaping the future
Campaign boosts its goal for scholarships to $400 million
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Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University has raised a total of $1.459 billion, as of Jan. 31, from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, corporations, foundations and friends. The campaign was publicly announced Oct. 6, 2012. Its overarching goal is “to enhance our leadership today to benefit America and the world tomorrow.”
Washington University in St. Louis students and faculty already are benefiting from Leading Together, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said. “New facilities are underway for business, social work and medicine. We also have received wonderful support for new professorships, scholarships and academic programs that are having tremendous impact. We hope to surpass our minimum goal of $2.2 billion before June 30, 2018.” The university has identified total needs that exceed $4 billion.
Wrighton recently announced that the campaign has raised its goal for scholarships to $400 million. The original goal of $150 million previously had been increased to $330 million. The new figure reflects Wrighton’s ongoing commitment to make a Washington University education affordable and accessible for all qualified students.
“We aspire to admit talented students, independent of their financial circumstances, and to help them fulfill their potential as graduates of the university,” Wrighton said. “To do so, we must increase the financial aid resources we have available so that all admitted students can afford to join us. This is why we have raised our goal for scholarships and fellowships from $330 million to at least $400 million by the conclusion of the campaign.”
Leading Together is working to increase the number of endowed professorships as well. “Our contributions as a leading research university depend upon the faculty,” Wrighton said. “Endowed professorships are essential to help us recruit and retain outstanding faculty members. A named professorship is the highest honor we can bestow to recognize extraordinary professional achievement.” The university has secured 76 commitments for new endowed professorships since the start of the current campaign.
Advancing the scholarship, research and creative potential of students and faculty is another major priority of the campaign. Leading Together seeks to raise $900 million to support academic and scientific initiatives.
The Annual Fund, another key campaign priority, set new records in 2012-13 with 51,132 donors contributing $26.4 million. Combining gifts of all sizes, the Annual Fund is put to immediate use by schools and programs wherever the need is greatest. It provides unrestricted resources for scholarships, academic programs, libraries and technology, internships and career preparation, athletics, the arts, and innovative learning opportunities.
Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University began in March 2009 with a three-year silent phase. It will strengthen WUSTL’s service in four primary areas where the university is uniquely poised to make a global difference: preparing the leaders of tomorrow, advancing human health, inspiring innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhancing the quality of life. Washington University Trustee Andrew C. Taylor, executive chairman of Enterprise Holdings Inc., is leading the public phase of the campaign.
In March, WUSTL faculty and staff will be invited to support Leading Together. All gifts, large and small, will help the campaign expand scholarship opportunities, attract and retain outstanding faculty, advance scholarship and research, enhance teaching and research facilities, and increase annual unrestricted support. Strong participation by faculty and staff helps inspire greater support for the campaign by donors outside the university, including alumni, corporations and foundations.
Hundreds of volunteers and thousands of donors are helping to achieve the campaign goals. Leading Together is a university-wide effort supported by alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and other friends of Washington University across the United States and around the world.