Green pennants proclaiming the “Forever Green” pride of Northwest Missouri State University employees are appearing again on office doors and windows throughout the University campus this fall. Now in its fifth year, the pennants are a symbol of not just school spirit, but faculty and staff support of Northwest scholarships and programs.

The annual giving campaign, conducted by the Office of University Advancement, encourages employees to support areas of the University they are passionate about through monetary gifts. The campaign is designed to raise awareness throughout the campus community of the importance private support plays in Northwest and its students’ success.

Employee participation in the faculty and staff annual giving campaign enhances Northwest’s profile in the eyes of prospective donors and funding foundations. As an added incentive, all employees who give to the campaign receive the pennant designating their contribution.

“Students often say that the reasons they chose Northwest and love Northwest are because of the faculty and staff that go above and beyond to assist students,” Shelby Bottiger, Northwest’s annual giving and donor relations specialist, said. “Faculty and staff at Northwest truly care about each and every student and their success. Extending that support to help our students financially is just another way that Northwest’s faculty and staff are exceptional. Every gift goes directly to help support the students we all care about.”

Employees are invited to designate gifts to any area at Northwest, such as an academic department or a specific scholarship, or donate to the Northwest Fund, which directs funds to the greatest needed areas on campus. Employees also have the option of supporting Northwest initiatives such as an Adopt-a-Bearcat Scholarship or the Pay It Forward Fund or the Bearcat Food Pantry.

Fourteen Northwest employees who represent academic, administrative and athletics offices serve as Team Northwest ambassadors this fall and are working to help increase participation in the campaign.

“I’ve been an active supporter of the Team Northwest campaign since I began teaching at Northwest four years ago,” Dr. Luke Campbell, an assistant professor of political science and a campaign ambassador this year, said. “The reason, essentially, is that faculty support outside of the classroom is a profound testament to our backing of students, the institution and the entire Northwest community.”

Employees may learn more or submit gifts through a payroll deduction, check or credit card by visiting www.nwmissouri.edu/TeamNorthwest/, or by calling 660.562.1248. Any gift the Northwest Foundation receives between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, will be counted within the current annual giving campaign.

The Northwest Foundation, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation, is responsible for receiving, investing, stewarding and disbursing private support on behalf of the donors of Northwest Missouri State University for the benefit of the University, its students, faculty, staff and alumni. The Northwest Foundation, governed by a 39-member volunteer board of directors, is staffed by members of Northwest’s Office of University Advancement.

The Northwest Foundation recently announced it secured $5.3 million in donor funding during Fiscal Year 2019, a 15 percent increase over last year’s total and adding to a record $22.5 million during the last three years. It also awarded $1.06 million in financial assistance through 1,344 scholarships

For more information about the Northwest Foundation or to make a gift to support Northwest, contact the Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248 or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/GiveOnline.