Knox College’s first comprehensive campaign in more than 20 years, Venture Boldly, recently crossed the $145 million mark enroute to its $175 million goal. Nearly 13%—or $19 million—of Venture Boldly funding has come from foundations, big and small, and the State of Illinois. Key to Knox’s success, this grant funding supports projects and initiatives that are fundamental to the College’s ability to deliver a residential liberal arts education.
“Grants underscore the importance that foundations and organizations play in sustaining and advancing higher education in our country, and here at Knox. They support all of the key components of a Knox education—students and scholarships, faculty teaching and research, new and existing academic programs, and capital projects,” said Marin Amundson-Graham, vice president for advancement. “They are an important foundation of Venture Boldly, reflecting both the comprehensive nature of the campaign and the power of partnership.”
The two dozen institutions that have awarded Knox grants over the course of the Venture Boldly campaign range from small family to large private foundations and also include regional and national government agencies.
“Grants often allow us to support pilot projects, help programs try something new and daring, support one-time events or programs, or purchase specialized equipment for student and faculty research that aren’t part of our regular operating budget,” shared Fallon Allison, director of college grants. “Grants also provide essential funding for student opportunities such as research projects, internships, or immersive experiences that are central to their learning and growth as scholars and citizens.”
Allison handles all corporate and foundation grants, as well as state and federal grants. She works directly with faculty and staff on project development, proposal writing, grant communication, and other areas of grant support and stewardship.
“One of the things I love most about my role is working with a cross-section of campus. I have the privilege of hearing Provost and Dean of the Faculty Melissa Glenn discuss her vision for faculty professional development or how she sees Knox preparing students for the future; staff in Knox’s centers share the good work they are doing; Senior Staff members communicate about capital projects and updating campus infrastructure; faculty members describe the new programs, speakers, or equipment they would like to bring to campus. I have a great view of all of the dedicated people it takes to operate a liberal arts campus,” added Allison.
“
“To receive grant funding. . . confirms for me that the work that we do here at Knox every day is important for the futures of our students, as well as the future of our society.”
—President C. Andrew McGadney
The support from foundations and agencies provides the College with crucial financial resources and is also a direct vote of support for Knox’s mission and education.
“To receive grant funding from the Mellon Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and National Endowment for the Humanities, among others, confirms for me that the work we do here at Knox every day is important for the futures of our students, as well as the future of our society,” said President C. Andrew McGadney. “I am also humbled by the number of Knox family and friends who support the College through private and family foundations, from the Kohler Foundation and the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation, to the Galesburg Community Foundation and Richter Memorial Foundation.”
Making a Great College Even Better
Grants from public and private agencies or foundations have a tremendous impact on all facets of the Knox community: To drive strategic growth, enrich the student experience, and invest in our community. Below are a few examples of grants received during the Venture Boldly comprehensive campaign and their impact on Knox and its community.
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: Transforming Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center
A $10 million grant from the State of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is funding the current renovation of the Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center (SMC). Knox is partnering with two regional companies, RATIO Design and Russell, on the renovation. The current project will focus primarily on the building’s C-Wing, which houses the chemistry classrooms and laboratories, common spaces, and faculty offices, as well as upgrades to building systems.
“Knox is grateful to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for its investment in Knox, the State of Illinois for its investment in higher education across the state, and our partners, RATIO and Russell, as we embark on this transformative capital project,” said President C. Andrew McGadney. “As an historic campus, investments in academic buildings and infrastructure are crucial to ensuring that teaching and learning take place in modern, state-of-the-art facilities.”
The Mellon Foundation: Abolition for All Time
In December of 2025, the College completed our multi-year Abolition for All Times project, funded by a $1.2 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The grant promoted and enhanced work that Knox does well: interdisciplinary collaboration. Dozens of faculty developed new curricula and engaged with new, digital teaching tools. Although the grant project has ended, interdisciplinary work continues on campus, and faculty pursuit of grant funding for new projects is robust. This year, faculty have sought grants to bring world-class speakers to campus, to support arts programming, to perform cutting-edge research with students, to gather data on student success, and to design and support new approaches to teaching signature Knox classes.
Richter Memorial Fund: Supporting the Hallmark of a Knox Education
Providing support for the hallmark of a Knox educational experience—immersive learning—for 30 years, the Richter Memorial Fund has granted Knox $1.1 million over the course of the Venture Boldly campaign. During the 2025-26 academic year, the College received $325,000, the largest amount the College has received in a single year. The annual grants support Knox students pursuing projects that encourage critical thinking and exploration. Two hundred independent research, collaborative projects, or creative projects by Knox students—all guided by faculty mentors—are funded by Richter each year. Since 1995, the fund has provided more than $3.7 million to support experiential learning.
Richter recently funded an honors project, collaborative research project, and presentations at multiple professional conferences for Brandon Roberts ’25. Brandon is now enrolled in the master of arts program in philosophy of religions and the Bible at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Creative writing projects for Kris Pandey ’25 and Nathan Hill ’25, who are both attending the renowned University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, were made possible through Richter funding. Sarah Hoffman-Weitsman ’24, who is now a doctoral student in the biochemistry program at Washington University in St. Louis, pursued an honors project and full-time summer research using Richter funding. Additionally, Lily Gates ’22, an English major with minors in educational studies and biology, received a Richter award to support an exploration of childbirth, motherhood, and maternity. She recently completed her master of science in nursing at Rush University College of Nursing and currently works as a surgical nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Kohler Trust for the Arts & Education: Faculty Enrichment & Endowed Scholarships
In early 2025, Knox received two awards from the Kohler Trust for the Arts & Education: $100,000 to be invested in our Kohler Endowed Scholarship Fund and $159,500 for our Linda Karger Kohler Anderson Endowment for Faculty Enrichment. This generosity directly supported two pillars of our mission: access to a Knox education regardless of financial means and a commitment to investing in our communities.
Red Engel ’25, from Oak Park, Illinois, was the recipient of a Kohler Endowed Scholarship during his senior year. He graduated with a strong GPA and majored in art history with a minor in chemistry. Engel is currently enrolled in the master’s program in art history at Indiana University Bloomington, hopes to be an art history and visual studies professor, and would like to use his artistic talent in the world of graphic novels and comic books.
Professor of Theatre Jeff Grace was one of 13 faculty members who received funds from the Linda Karger Kohler Anderson Endowment for Faculty Enrichment. Grace used funds to travel to New York to direct a staged reading of Robert Patrick’s The Haunted Host at a small café in the West Village and work in the archives of the Billy Rose Theatre Collection at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. This work contributes to the history of theatre and has helped inform Professor Grace’s research on the history of gay representation on stage in the 1960s.
Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation: Investing in the Academic Experience
Grants from the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation over the course of the Venture Boldly comprehensive campaign total $90,000 and have made a direct and lasting impact on learning at Knox. Students have benefited from significant equipment purchases, including graphic processing units for deep learning projects, a gas-chromatograph mass spectrometer used by chemistry faculty and students, a refrigeration unit for the Mössbauer Lab, and, most recently, a photogrammetry drone for Green Oaks. The Scripps Foundation also has invested in centers and laboratories that are at the heart of the student experience at Knox, including the Geographic Information System Laboratory, a biology/biochemistry laboratory, the Bastian Family Center for Career Success, and the Kleine Center for Community Service.
Illinois State Library: Innovative Push for Educational Affordability
Knox faculty members are leading an innovative push toward educational affordability for students at Knox and around the world through a nearly $95,000 Open Educational Resources (OER) grant funded by the Illinois State Library. OERs are teaching and learning materials that are freely available for use and reuse, and this initiative is designed to develop five OERs that will impact Knox students across various disciplines. Project leader and Director of Seymour Library Anne T homason explained that by reducing barriers to textbooks, the project offers an accessible alternative. “The high cost of textbooks can be prohibitive,” she added. “This project will both make course materials more affordable and improve learning outcomes for students.”
Endowed & Annual Scholarships: Making a Knox Education Possible
Over the course of the Venture Boldly campaign, foundations, both private and public, have provided more than $500,000 in scholarship funds that support current and future Knox students. The generosity of the Hearst Foundation, Charles Becker Foundation, Davee Foundation, and San Francisco Foundation, among others, have provided life-changing experiences that profoundly impact our students. Here are just a few examples (in our students’ own words):
“This scholarship will help me do what I really want to do at Knox instead of having to worry about what I would have to do to pay off loans. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to further my education while carrying on your legacy.”
—Tamia Ware ’26, Elizabeth Eckford Scholarship Recipient
“I grew up in Bushnell, Illinois, a small town that truly has shaped a lot of what I value in my life, one of those being connections and communications with communities. One of the reasons I came here was because I absolutely adore the idea of being able to know people and be a part of different organizations around campus. . . . Thank you so much for this scholarship that will allow me to continue with my education.”
—Janet Lentini ’27, Robert P. (Bob) Albrecht Endowed Scholarship Recipient
“This scholarship has significantly alleviated the financial burden of my education, allowing me to focus on my studies and pursue my academic and career goals with renewed determination. Your belief in my potential means the world to me and I am truly honored to be a recipient of this scholarship.
—Grael Mulata ’26, Lily M. Budde and Henry J. Budde Scholarship Recipient