Ever wondered why the Annual fund is so important?
The WashU Annual Fund provides support that fuels the teaching, learning, research, and achievement happening across the university every day.
Strength in numbers
The Annual Fund supports professorships, scholarships, student research, classroom technology, and so much more. It also enables university leadership to act on immediate or changing needs and address unforeseen challenges. In fact, Annual Fund dollars significantly bridge the gap between tuition and the full cost of a WashU education.
Unlike the university’s endowment, the Annual Fund is built with both large and small gifts from thousands of donors that are pooled together for everyday, urgent expenses. The fund then returns to a zero balance at the start of each fiscal year (July 1) and is replenished throughout the year by alumni, parents, and friends.
Most important, the Annual Fund ensures flexible resources are available for nearly everything that makes the WashU experience extraordinary—from scholarships and fellowships to experiential learning opportunities to career counseling to team uniforms.
Get ready for WashU Giving Day!
Washington University will celebrate its first university-wide Giving Day on April 19, 2023. This special 24-hour fundraising blitz aims to rally the collective strength of WashU alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends in support of the university’s mission.
Going above and beyond for students
WashU strives to meet students where they are and provide them the support they need to pursue every opportunity, realize their full potential, and shape our world. To improve student access and success, Washington University has launched Make Way: Our Student Initiative.
Creating a domino effect
Omar Abdelaziz, BSBA ’18, attended WashU thanks to generous scholarship support. Now a product manager at Google, he creates technology products that improve the lives of millions of people. Abdelaziz gives back to WashU in appreciation for the community that helped shape him and his career.
Did you know?
- Last year, Annual Fund gifts of $100 or less combined to total $1.3 million in support.
- The percentage of undergraduate alumni who give back to their alma mater is a factor considered in U.S. News & World Report rankings.
- In 2021-22, 14,613 alumni had made gifts to WashU for two or more consecutive years.
every gift makes an impact!
McKelvey School of Engineering scholarship donors