Recap: Annual Fund 2019-2020 When we asked for help, you gave unselfishly.
Alumni, parents and friends once again gave generously to Washington and Lee during the 2019-2020 fiscal year ending on June 30. The Annual Fund final result of $10,425,585 was the fourth-highest total ever achieved. The highest, $10,858,812, was set in 2017-2018.
This has been, without a doubt, a particularly challenging time for both alumni and the university as the COVID-19 pandemic upended life. At W&L, President Dudley instructed that all gifts to the Annual Fund go directly to address the unexpected needs of the university’s community. When we asked for help, you gave unselfishly.
Your gift:
- provided financial assistance for our most vulnerable students
- helped faculty, students and staff transition to virtual instruction
- guaranteed employment for all members of the campus community through the end of the fiscal year
- Refunded room and board costs for W&L families
Moreover, those gifts to the Annual Fund continue to pay dividends. This fall, as the university welcomes students back to a new environment of social distancing and modified classroom structures, it will be prepared to provide an outstanding education without missing a beat. One area that has benefitted particularly from directed giving to the Annual Fund is diversity and inclusion programming, helping prepare our community for important discussions on current social and racial issues. Thanks to all of you, we will have the resources to address multiple scenarios.
A Few More Impressive Stats
This year’s reunion classes, ending in 0 and 5, concluded with the third-highest record result, following the 4’s and 9’s record-setting years in 2014 and 2019. The Law School exceeded its FY20 AF goal of $1,575,000, with $1,621,846. Non‐alumni parents gave $1,637,637 representing 15.7% of this year’s total Annual Fund.
The Annual Fund benefited from the support of 41.2% of undergraduate alumni making a gift to the university. In a turbulent year, W&L still maintains its longtime status as having one of the highest undergraduate participation rates in the country. Overall, W&L received $46,394,234 in new gifts and pledges in support of all university priorities, while philanthropic cash received totaled $66,717,796, the second-highest total in five years.
We thank you for your magnificent support and look forward to another successful year.
