Financial support from Lawrence University’s alumni and friends came in strong during the 2021-22 fiscal year, with the Lawrence Fund raising a record $4.13 million.
The Lawrence Fund, the key funding mechanism that supports students, the work of faculty, and the upkeep of campus infrastructure on a daily basis, was up 6.5% from the prior year and surpassed the previous record of $4.03 million set in 2019-20.
In the year following the close of the Be the Light! campaign, the university brought in more than $15 million in total gift revenue, including $6.4 million for the endowment. The alumni participation rate stands at an impressive 29.5%.
“During my long tenure at Lawrence, I have been inspired by the fierce loyalty and generosity of the Lawrence community, especially around the support of the Lawrence Fund,” said Cal Husmann, senior vice president for alumni and development. “I have had countless conversations with alumni who share that their reason for giving to the Lawrence Fund is directly related to their gratitude for their Lawrence education and experiences. Since the Lawrence Fund supports every aspect of the student experience at Lawrence, I am moved that we reached a new record in Lawrence Fund support.”
The Lawrence Fund does more than just keep the lights on; it lights the way for a transformative educational experience for every Lawrentian.
Husmann applauded O.B. Parrish ’55 as an example of the unwavering support that comes from alumni. He said Parrish committed to supporting the Lawrence Fund seven years ago.
“He has given over $100,000 to the Lawrence Fund each year as a ‘game changer’ for Giving Day,” Husmann said. “I appreciate his enthusiasm for using his gifts to inspire others to join him and supporting Lawrence.”
Giving Day—one day set aside each fall for support of the Lawrence Fund—is a team effort, with Lawrence staff and faculty partnering with alumni to celebrate Lawrence and recruit participation from other Lawrentians. In 2021, more than 3,300 donors stepped up to contribute more than $1.97 million, both all-time highs for the eighth annual Giving Day.
“The success of this day really was a full community effort—from alumni reaching out to their classmates encouraging them to give, to staff answering phones, to students running events on campus, to the generosity of our ‘game changers’ who provided matching gift funds, to countless other ways people showed their support for Lawrence,” Amber Nelson, director of alumni-development communications and project manager for Giving Day, said at the time.
Giving Day 2022 is planned for Oct. 26.
Ed Berthiaume
Ed Berthiaume is director of public information at Lawrence University.