EKU breaks yearly fundraising record

EKU fundraised more than $10 million from donors for the first time in the school’s history this fiscal year.

That includes money raised from July 1, 2023 to June 30 this year. EKU says the total amount raised is “$10,005,663 and counting.”

“The major gifts really came through, creating scholarships and allowing us to invest the money so that the funds can continue to grow forever. It’s great,” school Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement Mary Beth Neiser said. “And then just people that decided to remember us in their wills and really left a significant contribution that way.”

The amount is a record for EKU. It also includes more than $720,000 being raised on EKU’s fifth annual Giving Day in April.

Neiser says most of that money will help support student scholarships.

“There are some things that support students in other ways,” Neiser said. “Some of the gifts go straight to athletics. It really depends on what the donor intends. But just over the 23-24 school year, we were able to award $1.8 million in scholarships.”

The university says more than half of its freshman class are first-generation college students. EKU was able to grant 2,546 scholarships this past academic year.

** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation .