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Home » Alumni

Northwest Foundation

Mission Statement

The mission of the Northwest Foundation is to encourage, receive, invest, manage, steward and disburse private support on behalf of the donors of Northwest Missouri State University, for the benefit of the University, its students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Established in 1971, the Foundation operates independently of the state institution as a separate 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation governed by its own Board of Directors.

History

The Northwest Missouri State College Educational Foundation Inc. was formed in April 1971 as a nonprofit organization with a general purpose "for the promotion of the welfare, goals and programs of Northwest" and a mission "to enhance the educational offerings and facilities of Northwest.

The Northwest Foundation Inc., as it is known today, started with $5,352 in contributions from Northwest alumni, friends, faculty and staff, and was formed under the presidency of Dr. Robert P. Foster. Its first executive officers included J. Norvel Sayler, president; B.J. Alcott, vice president; Paul Fields, treasurer; and Everett Brown, secretary. Each of the nine original directors agreed to contribute $1,000 to the Foundation. By the end of 1972, the board expanded to include 10 new members and eight ex-officio members, and more than $17,500 in contributions were recorded. The first gifts were used to support the University's library and a $500 scholarship. By 1973, the Foundation made its first sizeable purchase for the University involving an 80-acre tract of land to create an outdoor laboratory facility "to eventually be fronted by a sizeable water reservoir known as the Mozingo Watershed."

Since these early years, the Northwest Foundation has seen many changes, but it holds true to its goal to assist the University, its students, faculty, staff and alumni. This was evident when the Northwest Foundation publicly launched its first formal capital campaign, The Campaign for Northwest, in 2002. Many people thought the goal of $21 million was unattainable. However, by the campaign's 2006 conclusion, $43.5 million was raised, including $20 million for scholarships. Because of the overwhelming success of this campaign, there were concerns that the giving levels would take a drastic dip. Those concerns were unfounded. Total private support to the University in fiscal year 2008, which ended June 30, topped the $5.5 million mark. This was an unprecedented third successive year that private support to the Northwest Foundation exceeded $5 million. In addition, about 69 percent of the FY08 support was received in the form of planned gift expectancies, which climbed to an all-time high of $25.3 million.

Presidents of the Foundation