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Northwest Foundation secured $8.02 million in donor funding
Northwest Foundation Inc., the fundraising arm of Northwest Missouri State University, again achieved a high level of scholarship distributions and secured $8.02 million in donor funding during Fiscal Year 2021, which ended June 30.
Scholarship support remains a central mission of the Foundation, which awarded nearly $1.2 million in financial assistance through 1,477 scholarships during FY21. With increases for the third consecutive year, the dollar amount represents the highest awarded in the history of the Foundation as well as the highest number of donor-funded scholarships awarded.
The Foundation’s success parallels with its Forever Green campaign, which launched publicly in 2019 with a goal of raising $45 million for University initiatives centered on academic excellence, scholarships, student life and other donor-directed gifts. The campaign closed June 30, and the University and Foundation announced during a July 30 formal celebration in the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse that it ended with an astounding $55,026,782 raised. The evening also celebrated the Northwest Foundation’s 50th anniversary.
Mitzi Marchant, the vice president of university advancement at Northwest and executive director of the Northwest Foundation, expressed her thanks to the thousands of donors and volunteers who supported the Forever Green campaign and bolstered opportunities for the University’s students.
“Whether you’re a graduate, a friend of the University, an employer of Bearcats, a parent or community member, I like to think the mere mention of Northwest creates some sort of favorable memory for each of us,” Marchant said. “We all see the value in ensuring Northwest remains a vibrant university for generations to come. The support shown during the Forever Green campaign is a promising sign the future does indeed remain bright for Northwest.”
Ninety-two percent of the total funds raised by the Foundation during FY21 were cash gifts, while a total of 4,529 donors contributed to Northwest initiatives. The Foundation’s total assets under management increased 14.5 percent to $45.67 million, while its endowment stands at more than $33 million. In FY21, the Foundation provided more than $9.4 million to the University as direct and indirect support of various needs.
“The success we had in the past year and throughout the Forever Green campaign was not only a testament to the hard work of the Northwest Foundation and the University Advancement team, but it was also a powerful statement of support demonstrated by our alumni, friends of Northwest, community, corporate partners and the state of Missouri,” said Dr. Bob Burrell, president of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors. “Thank you to all who supported Northwest by giving your time, your talent and your donations. We are forever grateful.”
Among the year’s highlights, Northwest opened its Agricultural Learning Center in July. Located on the 448-acre R.T. Wright Farm, the new 29,000-square-foot multipurpose facility helps enhance the School of Agricultural Sciences and its curriculum by providing laboratory, kitchen and exposition space as well as classrooms and offices while helping the School meet enrollment and program growth.
Further illustrating the Foundation’s growth in FY21, The 1905 Society, which recognizes supporters who make an annual unrestricted gift of $1,000 or more, counted 163 members. Meanwhile, the Foundation’s annual giving program raised about $465,000 in FY21, a 31 percent increase since FY20.
The Northwest Alumni Association drew more than 14,000 attendees to more than 120 engagement activities, despite the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the cancellation of numerous events. Northwest counts more than 80,000 alumni and friends of the University as members of the Northwest Alumni Association.
Additionally, last April, for the seventh consecutive year, Northwest students celebrated alumni and friends who contribute generously to the University in support of scholarships, campus facilities and the value of a college degree during “Thank a Donor Day.”
The Northwest Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, develops and stewards philanthropic resources for the benefit of the Northwest Missouri State University and its students. It is governed by a 37-member volunteer board and staffed by members of Northwest’s Office of University Advancement.
To make a gift to support Northwest, contact the Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248 or give online.
Fiscal year 2021 - July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021
The goals Northwest sets for itself continue to be ambitious, inspiring and visionary. The establishment of the Fifth District Normal School in 1905 was the culmination of a 30-year struggle to bring higher education to the region. These donors provided a minimum of $1,000 in unrestricted monetary support, which is vital to achieve the possibilities that pave the way for a brighter future for Northwest and its students.
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These donors contributed at least $25,000 between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
The Board of Regents serves as the governing body for Northwest Missouri State University. The nine members, including a non-voting student regent, are appointed by the governor and approved by the Missouri Senate. The Board holds the Northwest vision in its highest regard.
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These donors contributed between $10,000 and $24,999 between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
The Fifth District Normal School opened in 1905, offering two-year programs to educate teachers for the region. The name was changed to Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in 1919 as the curriculum began to focus on four-year programs. As its prominence as a regional institution began to grow and the fields of study continued to expand, the name was changed to Northwest Missouri State College in 1949. Finally, as the breadth of its programs continued to increase, especially graduate studies, the name Northwest Missouri State University was approved in 1972. No matter the formal name, the institution has always been known by its alumni and friends as Northwest.
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These donors contributed between $5,000 and $9,999 between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
The cornerstone of Academic Hall, now the Administration Building, was laid Oct. 12, 1907, amid great celebration, including a parade. Into the cornerstone, a copper box was placed that included many items from the era such as coins, pictures and a copy of the law that created the Fifth District Normal School. After many heartaches and delays, the building was finally completed in 1910.
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These donors contributed between $1,000 and $4,999 between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
Eleven presidents have served Northwest from its days as the Fifth District Normal School to present day Northwest Missouri State University. Through their guidance and leadership, Northwest has grown into one of the most respected universities in the country.
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These donors contributed between $500 and $999 between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
Efforts to bring a normal school - a training school for teachers in the public schools - to northwest Missouri began in 1874. After many years of struggle, in 1905, House Bill 311 and Senate Bill 114 were passed and signed into law by Gov. Joseph W. Folk. For 14 years, the institution was known as the Fifth District Normal School and graduated hundreds of teachers who served the region.
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These donors contributed between $250 and $499 between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
A lake on the campus was created during the tenure of President Uel W. Lamkin. Known as Lamkin Lake, College Pond and now Colden Pond, the area remains a popular place for students to gather and relax. Included in the surrounding geography are the well-known Kissing Bridge, the Northwest Peace Pavilion, and the Joyce and Harvey White International Plaza, making the south entrance to campus a visual masterpiece.
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These donors have contributed $1 million or more in lifetime gifts.
As students in the early 1900s arrived at the Maryville train depot, one of the first sights to the west of the station was the impressive turrets atop the institution’s Academic Hall, later known as the Administration Building. Through destructive tornados and a devastating fire, the Administration Building and its turrets have withstood the test of time, standing tall as an enduring symbol of Northwest.
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These donors have contributed between $500,000 and $999,999 in lifetime gifts.
Born in Staffordshire, England, on April 4, 1830, Thomas W. Gaunt was the son of Thomas Gaunt and Catherine Wooley. He moved to Nodaway County in 1857 and established a plant nursery, cultivating a variety of ornamental, shade and fruit trees. The Thomas Gaunt House was constructed during the 1870s and has been the home of Northwest presidents since its donation by the daughters of Thomas Gaunt in 1905.
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These donors have contributed between $250,000 and $499,999 in lifetime gifts.
The first building erected on campus was Academic Hall, now known as the Administration Building. Its commanding location is situated on the highest point of land between Omaha, Nebraska and St. Louis on the old Wabash Railroad line - 1,163 feet above sea level. Five cut-leaf birches stood at the site like sentinels, prompting faculty and students to describe the Normal School as being located “behind the birches.”
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These donors have contributed between $100,000 and $249,999 in lifetime gifts.
In 1965, Dr. Robert P. Foster announced plans to build a bell tower as a memorial to deceased alumni, former faculty members and members of the University's family who died representing our country. After years of fundraising, ground was finally broken in the fall of 1970 and the sounds of chiming bells greeted students returning for the fall of 1971.
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These donors have contributed between $25,000 and $99,999 in lifetime gifts.
The original architectural plans for the campus, which were modeled after Cambridge University, included a large quadrangle, marked on the most northern point by the Administration Building, with all future campus buildings built facing the quadrangle. While the original plans were never realized, the first sidewalk built from the entrance at Fourth Street and College Avenue led straight to the front door of the Administration Building and became known as the Long Walk.
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The Northwest Foundation is thankful for the lifetime support of all alumni and friends. Although lifetime giving levels now begin at $25,000, these individuals assumed a vital role in the former Tower Society with their lifetime gifts between $10,000 and $24,999.
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These donors have created a planned or deferred gift for Northwest or the Northwest Foundation. No minimum level of gift is required. James H. Lemon, a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, introduced House Bill No. 311, also known at the time as the "Nodaway County Normal Bill." Fighting against strong opposition in the House, Lemon is credited with establishing the Fifth District Normal School, as Northwest was originally known. His efforts culminated 30 years of struggle to bring higher education to the region.
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