Westminster has record fundraising year: $10.1M

Westminster College is celebrating the most successful fundraising year in recent college history after receiving more than $10 million—including four gifts of $1 million or more—during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

While institutions of higher education across the country are facing serious challenges, more than 1,700 donors—alumni, students, parents, employees, friends and corporations—made contributions this year totaling $10.1 million in support of the College’s mission and vision by leaving legacy gifts, supporting key projects, contributing to the Westminster Fund or establishing endowed scholarships. This restricted and unrestricted giving total surpasses the $9 million record set in 2012.

“We are incredibly grateful for the phenomenal support and generosity shown by so many of our alumni and friends who have demonstrated a deep commitment to Westminster’s purpose and mission,” said Westminster College President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “Each gift is a testament to the transformative experience a Westminster education provides. Donor support enables Westminster to continue serving as a place where ideas and dreams can grow and flourish.”

Four specific gifts comprised more than half of the year’s giving total, benefiting the College in ways that will impact students for generations to come.

A $2.2 million undesignated gift from the estates of Frank Jones ’52 and his wife, Shirley, is being used to fund necessary renovations and repairs to the Westminster Natatorium. Mr. Jones earned a degree in history from Westminster and a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School and had a distinguished law career. Mrs. Jones was speech and hearing therapist in Florida and a governor-appointed member of the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Mr. Jones died in 2021, while Mrs. Jones passed away in 2023.

Westminster received a $1 million undesignated bequest from alumnus Jere Stecklein ’73, who earned a degree in psychology from Westminster. Stecklein’s gift helped fund repairs in the Buzz Ridl Gymnasium in the Memorial Field House and some other critical systems repairs for the College. Stecklein passed away in 2023.

A $1 million estate gift from Fred Sullivan, a longtime donor to Westminster College who passed away in January, will be used for the final phase of the Hoyt Science Center Renovation and Expansion Project and to endow the Dietz Sullivan Biology Research Experience, which will enable students and faculty to collaborate on biology-related undergraduate research projects. The fund was established in memory of Sullivan’s wife, Carol Dietz Sullivan ’59.

Alumni couple Will Maurer ’53 and his wife, Carol Jean Young Maurer ’62, provided more than $1 million for a lead challenge gift to inspire additional contributions toward the final phase of the Hoyt Science Center Renovation and Expansion Project. The Maurers’ gift and additional challenge gifts received will support updating the environmental science, computer science, mathematics, psychology, neuroscience and physics offices, labs and classrooms in the center.

During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, alumni and friends also had the opportunity to support various projects through two four-day crowdsourcing campaigns.

The Give Like a Titan campaign in November 2023 netted $87,000, while a spring Operation Swift Gifts campaign raised $44,000. Gifts supported various funds and initiatives such as the Wherever Needed Most Fund, the Student Emergency Fund, campus beautification projects and student travel. Donors could also give directly to the Westminster Fund, which supplements scholarships and financial aid.

The College’s fiscal year ended on June 30.

For those wishing to support Westminster College, please visit www.westminster.edu/give.

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