Knox Community Ventures Boldly to Raise Record-Breaking $38.5 Million

Ventured boldly. Fueled the fire. Outraised the roof. Made Knox proud. No matter what you call it, the Knox community stepped up in support of Knox’s mission this past year. In total, alumni, parents, and friends contributed a record $38.5 million during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, marking the largest amount ever raised for the College in a single year. More alumni also gave to Knox, reaching 20% participation, well above the higher education industry average of 8.6 percent.* Thanks to another record-breaking $9 million in annual Knox Fund support, including $7.5 million in unrestricted giving, that supports things such as scholarship, faculty salaries, and student programming and experiences. 

“Every scholarship funded, every internship, every senior who crossed the stage this spring happened because of the support of the Knox community,” said Vice President for Advancement Marin Amundson-Graham. “At a moment when higher education is facing tremendous headwinds, the generosity of Knox alumni, parents, and friends is a true testament to their belief in the power of a Knox education. This is Venture Boldly in action.” 

Publicly launched in December 2024, Venture Boldly is Knox’s first comprehensive campaign in more than 20 years and encourages all members of the Knox community to honor the College’s historic past by supporting its mission and bright future. This year’s record-setting fundraising helped the comprehensive campaign reach nearly $150 million to date, 85 percent of the overall $175 million campaign goal. 

“When we asked our community to venture boldly in support of Knox, I knew they would step up to the challenge, but to break annual fundraising records is simply extraordinary. The boost in unrestricted Knox Fund dollars is particularly meaningful, as it’s the true lifeblood of the College, supporting all facets of the Knox experience,” said President C. Andrew McGadney.

Philanthropy in Action

“There is a reason we call Knox College a mighty community. I am truly grateful for all who showcased what the power of community and philanthropy can do in support of teaching and learning, students and faculty alike,” Amudson-Graham added.

Here are few examples of the impact donor support had on the Knox community this year

• Six pre-health students participated in the JUMP Medical Immersion Program at University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) where they trained and learned diagnosis techniques with robotic and cadaver patients. Thanks to a gift of $148,000, this two-week “medical boot camp” gives students a fully funded opportunity to experience the work that healthcare professionals engage in on an everyday basis . 
• Sixty-thousand dollars in grants from the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation have made a direct and lasting impact on learning at Knox, as students benefited from significant equipment purchases like the recently acquired photogrammetry drone to assist with research at Green Oaks, as well as new parts to support the Knox Observatory telescope and a set of custom optics to support the construction of a new and novel spectroscopic system.
• One hundred and thirty-four student presenters, including 15 seniors preparing to defend their Honors projects, participated in this year’s HORIZONS Research Symposium, which showcases the research and creative work of Knox students, under the guidance of faculty mentors. HORIZONS, and the student research it celebrates, is made possible, in part, each year thanks to the generosity of the Richter Memorial Fund, which granted the College a total of $325,000 in 2026.
• Knox added women’s flag footballto its roster of NCAA Division III sports, thanks to the support of an anonymous donor. A coach was hired this spring, and varsity competition will begin in fall 2027.
• More than $6.3 million dollars was raised to support student scholarships last year, helping students pursue a transformative education through academic and co-curricular experiences and a supportive campus community. “[My scholarship allows] me to focus more on the things that matter most: my education and obtaining a well-rounded college experience,” shared Samantha Boyas ’27, an elementary educational studies major from Chicago.

Community-Driven Impact

One of the key drivers behind this year’s giving and participation was community. Anonymous donors, alumni, trustees, and others offered matching gifts to build and sustain momentum for annual giving throughout the year. Starting with the fall’s athletic giving campaign, Fuel the Fire, moving to the Out-Raise the Roof giving challenge for Founder’s Month and the annual Knox Proud Days, then ending with the Alma Mater Match in June, nearly 2,500 donors gave $4.5 million through campaigns to support unrestricted Knox Fund giving. A key component of the campaigns’ success was that each provided donors with an opportunity to increase the impact of their gift.

“Individual philanthropy makes education more accessible, more valuable, and more consequential. Thanks to our amazing donors, a Knox education is in reach for hundreds of students each year who could not otherwise afford it. As costs rise nationally, this is the lever that keeps Knox true to its mission. I am truly grateful to everyone who donated to Knox this fiscal year, and want to offer my special thanks to our trustees and leadership donors who helped us build momentum in support of our mission and students,” said President McGadney. 

Learn more about giving to Knox and the Venture Boldly campaign. 

*Source: U.S. News & World Report