Fort Lewis College is soaring at new heights thanks to nearly 2,500 donors and their contributions totaling more than $9 million in record-setting support for students and the campus community.

This banner year of fundraising is the largest in FLC history, bringing monumental impact to student-facing initiatives such as new scholarships and internships, the launch of a new degree program, renovations to learning spaces, and revitalized housing and food security services. Previously, FLC raised an average of $3-5 million annually.

“We are excited to share this news highlighting how the collective support of our donors is impacting the trajectory of the next generation of leaders, change agents, and community stewards at Fort Lewis College,” said Melissa Mount, vice president for Advancement and CEO of the FLC Foundation.

Gifts received during the 2021-22 academic year represent a cadre of emerging opportunities for friends of FLC to enhance student support. Donors and community partners funded the Summer Bridge Programs, Skyhawk Emergency Fund & Persistence Grants, Grub Hub Food Pantry, Schlessman Family Hall, the new home for our Health Sciences programs, and the new Nursing degree program among others.

In total, there were 2,438 members in the 2021-22 donor community, with 784 new donors joining as supporters for the first time. These thousands of donors gifted $7,645,619 to FLC initiatives and programs, including $1.15 million toward just scholarships. FLC created 16 new scholarships, awarded assistance to 41 Teacher Education students, created the largest scholarship in FLC history, and ushered in the new Nursing program with student scholarships.

“As a single father, I cannot stress to you what this opportunity means to me. Due to the amount of time and effort that I put into my studies, as you can imagine, it has been very difficult to balance being a full-time student as well as being a single father,” said scholarship recipient Jacob Appenzeller. “I can honestly say this is the first time in my life that I haven’t had to consider working, even part-time, during the school year.”

“Our students are pushing the limits and we must in turn give them the financial support they need to reach their dreams and reach for a vision of a society that values differences, seeks equity, and honors work toward the greater good and betterment of all,” said FLC Foundation Board Chair Faith Roessel (Sociology, ‘78).

The FLC Foundation is also taking action to invest in FLC's amazing faculty and staff, from supporting faculty awards for research and scholarly activity to joining the Board of Trustees in providing financial support for housing solutions. Through an innovative partnership, the Board of Trustees and FLC Foundation partnered to designate $1 million to launch a mortgage assistance program for FLC faculty and staff as part of a multipronged approach to the housing crisis.

Including the $1.7 million given to FLC in closely held stock and cryptocurrency, the FLC Foundation received $9,310,447 total last year.

FLC Foundation Annual Impact Report

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