When Knox College asked, alumni, parents, and friends of the College delivered, highlighting one of the most successful fundraising years in school history. Total fundraising for the fiscal year ending on June 30 was $27.2 million, surpassing the year’s goal of $25 million.

Gifts to the Knox Fund, or gifts used to support the annual operations of the College, totaled a record-setting $7.5 million. Unrestricted giving to the annual fund exceeded $6 million, a 32 percent increase over the previous year.

A series of targeted campaigns contributed to the year’s success, including the Fuel the Fire campaign, which raised $507,000 for Prairie Fire Athletics, outperforming its goal of $500,000. May’s Knox Proud Days raised $1.78 million for the Knox Fund over a little more than two days, and the Match for Mission end-of-year campaign, generously supported by a $500,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor, brought in a staggering $1 million in unrestricted funding for the College. The Class of 1974 also set two records in support of its 50th Reunion: 74 percent of the class contributed to the reunion gift totaling $4,029,633.

Highlighting the year was the launch of the historic Venture Boldly comprehensive campaign in December 2024. The campaign visited 11 different cities around the country, sharing the College’s bold plans for its future and encouraging all members of the Knox community to support Knox’s historic mission. This year’s record-setting fundraising helped the comprehensive campaign’s reach $121 million to date, 69 percent of the overall $175 million campaign goal.

“Alumni, family, and friends came together and showed what’s possible when each of us does our part to support a transformational Knox education,” said President C. Andrew McGadney. “Because of the support from donors like you, our students are thriving. Thank you for giving, thank you for believing in Knox, and thank you for showing what we can achieve together.”