Law Fundraising Tops Annual Goal Generous law alumni, parents and friends contributed over $1.6 million to W&L Law’s Annual Fund in the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Thanks to the support of nearly 1400 law alumni, parents and friends, the Law Annual Fund this year raised $1.634 million during the 2021-22 fiscal year, exceeding its fundraising goal. Total giving to the Law School topped $7 million. Both figures are the second-highest totals ever achieved by W&L Law.
“I continue to be amazed by the generosity shown by the W&L Law community,” said Elizabeth Branner, assistant dean of law school advancement. “I am grateful for the support – large and small – by those who care about the Law School, our students, our faculty and staff, and our mission. I am especially appreciative of the group of anonymous alumni who offered a challenge match in the last month of our fiscal year. Our alumni are our secret sauce; few schools can compare.”
These fundraising successes are just one example of the robust engagement with the Law School by alumni. For example, the Law School hosted two Law Alumni Weekends this year, and over 500 alumni and family members returned to Lexington to celebrate with classmates. Scores of reunion volunteers encouraged classmate attendance at the August 2021 and April 2022 events, as well as participation in class gifts, which collectively raised $4.9 million on behalf of W&L Law.
Of the total amount raised by the Law School in 21-22, the bulk of contributions went to scholarships and other financial aid. Over 90 percent of today’s W&L Law students receive some form of financial support, and the average scholarship award is over $28,000 per year.
“It is difficult to overstate the competitive advantage W&L’s law alumni give to the school as it seeks to attract top students from across the country,” said Melanie Wilson, the new dean of the law school. “The financial support is amazing, but it is just one part of this remarkable community’s commitment to the success of our students.”
