$66M Year Pushes Game Changers Campaign Past $384 Million

The Davidson College community rallied to raise $66 million over the just-ended fiscal year, the second-highest total in school history. The vital funds will be channeled into scholarships, faculty support–the equivalent of 10 professorships, athletics and helping graduates launch into careers or further education.

The donations boosted the college's three-year-old campaign, Game Changers: Inspiring Leaders to Transform the World, toward its $425 million goal. The only year in which Davidson raised a larger amount was fiscal year 2013, when The Duke Endowment gave the largest gift in the school's history toward restructuring the campus to foster greater collaboration across the arts and sciences.

"Davidson's mission of preparing leaders has grown more urgent. Our world needs those with the courage, creative minds and humane instincts to bridge the divisions within our society and across the globe," said Davidson College President Carol Quillen. "Every dollar from our alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends strengthens our capacity to assist our students in developing the skills and character to lead and serve. The Davidson community, which now spans the globe, remains unusually close, in part because we see the disproportionate impact our graduates have in the world and we invest in the next generation. Thank you all for making Davidson's truly crucial mission achievable."

Specific fundraising successes from the fiscal year include:

• $18 million raised through The Fund for Davidson, a new record
• Funds raised for the equivalent of 10 professorships, also a new record
• $5.9 million raised for Davidson athletic programs
• Alumni participation of 56 percent, a leading figure nationally
• Senior class of 2017 giving of 91 percent

The Game Changers campaign aims to raise support for scholarships, academic and athletic experiences and transitioning students to lives of impact. Every gift made this year counts toward the campaign goal to surpass $425 million by June 30, 2019. To date, the campaign total exceeds $384 million.

Campaign milestones to date:

• Raised more than $159 million for new and existing scholarship funds, and Davidson became a founding member of the American Talent Initiative
• Raised more than $18 million for athletic scholarships
• Opened the Harry L. Vance Athletic Center, a $13.5 million project
• Celebrated Phase I of the E. Craig Wall Jr. Academic Center, a $74 million project; classes were held during the 2016-17 academic year, and Phase II opens this August
• Raised more than $39 million for faculty support, including named professorships, a digital studies curriculum, expanded research opportunities, the Bacca Visiting Scholar & Artist Program and the Davidson Next program
• Raised resources to strengthen and expand the Humanities Program
• Established the Spencer-Weinstein Center for Community and Justice, which serves to foster understanding among people from all backgrounds and cultures
• Created the Davidson Venture Fund that supports Davidson-led start-ups, and received funding for the initial, 6,000-square-foot build out of The Hub@Davidson
• Raised more than $7.8 million for arts education and public art
• Funded Spike! Grants to support student-led, student-performed art on campus
• Received more than 775 prospective student recommendations from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, current students and friends through "Recommend a Wildcat" in the last three years, more than 485 of whom applied to Davidson

"We are inspired every day by the progress of the Game Changers campaign, and our collective success to date is all because of the loyalty and vision of Davidson's incredible alumni, parents and friends," said campaign co-chairs Alison Hall Mauzé '84 and John McCartney '74. "The momentum is contagious, and we can't slow down now. Every gift makes a difference for the student experience, and it is a privilege to serve as leaders in this campaign and to see the immediate and lasting impact of this important effort." 

Visit our Game Changers website to learn more.

Danielle Strickland

dastrickland@davidson.edu

704-894-3101