Northern Arizona University Foundation Achieves Record Fundraising

News Summary

The Northern Arizona University Foundation has reached a historic fundraising milestone of $68.8 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. This achievement is a $15 million increase from the previous year and marks the foundation’s fourth consecutive year of exceeding its fundraising goals. Significant contributions from around 11,000 donors, including a notable $10 million cash donation, have enhanced support for educational programs and scholarships, boosting community engagement and financial resources for students at NAU.

Arizona – The Northern Arizona University Foundation has announced a record-breaking fundraising achievement, raising $68.8 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. This amount surpasses the previous year’s total by $15 million and marks the fourth consecutive year that the foundation has exceeded its fundraising goals. Over this period, the foundation has accumulated $191.3 million in philanthropic support.

This increase in funding was facilitated by transformative contributions from approximately 11,000 individuals and organizations. Notably, NAU’s Giving Day in May saw participation from nearly 1,500 donors, who collectively contributed over $1 million. This event also drew in around 500 new donors, indicating a growing willingness within the community to support the university’s core objectives and the broader landscape of higher education in Northern Arizona.

A significant portion of the fundraising success can be attributed to remarkable gifts, including a historic $10 million cash donation from Maria and Steve Sanghi. Their contribution enabled the establishment of the Steve Sanghi College of Engineering, which is now home to NAU’s first deanship, held by Charles Chadwell. This advancement is intended to enhance educational access and opportunities for students in the engineering field. In addition to this, the Sanghis also established the Karen Larson & Gary Bicker Academic Momentum Scholarships with a $5.2 million gift, focusing on STEM-related academic support.

The scholarships will assist students by addressing housing insecurity and fostering math readiness through the establishment of a new professorship. Complementing this effort, Univision Arizona introduced the “Tu Futuro” scholarship program, which will fully cover tuition and lodging for one undergraduate student at NAU for four years. Dayana Amaya has been selected as the inaugural recipient of this scholarship and will commence her studies in August 2025.

Any development in support services is matched by a surge in alumni volunteerism. Over the past year, more than 800 Lumberjacks dedicated 10,200 hours to 1,100 activities, fostering connection and engagement within the community. Efforts such as these underline the collaborative spirit surrounding NAU and its commitment to enhancing educational pathways for current and future students.

NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera acknowledged the invaluable support from the community, which plays a pivotal role in the university’s mission to broaden educational access and foster economic mobility in the region. He emphasized the importance of these contributions in furthering NAU’s strategic goals.

To encourage continued community involvement, the NAU Foundation has launched an impact website designed to connect potential donors to various initiatives and highlight the direct benefits of their contributions. This platform facilitates ongoing support for scholarships, funding for academic programs, and resources necessary for student success.

This record-breaking achievement in fundraising reflects both the commitment of individual donors and organizational partners in fostering academic excellence at Northern Arizona University. The foundation aims to continue building on this momentum, further expanding educational opportunities and creating impactful financial support frameworks for students in the years to come.

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