Why is Grinnell College still fundraising?

Because the world needs more Grinnellians.

The generosity of alumni helping to make a Grinnell education possible for others has always been impressive, but perhaps never more so than in response to surpassing The Campaign for Grinnell College’s $175 million goal one year early. So why is the College still fundraising? For the same reason that drives all our work: Because the world needs more Grinnellians. The world needs individuals who are creative, passionate, and critical thinkers — people who will right wrongs and find solutions to the incredibly complex problems that we face on local, national, and global scales.

By doing what the College does best, we empower Grinnellians to make a positive impact on the world. And today, that's more important than ever.

When the Campaign for Grinnell was launched, the world was a very different place. Today, as we face a global pandemic, political upheaval, fallout from multiple natural disasters, and a long-overdue reckoning with racial injustice, we’ve learned once again to expect the unexpected, to embrace change with flexibility, and to confidently continue forward in our mission, just as we have for almost 175 years.

In the Spring of 2020, as the determination was made that the safest action for students was to shift to remote learning in response to the COVID 19 pandemic, our generous alums stepped up to provide support for the Supporting Our Students (S.O.S.) Fund to ensure our students could return home safely or continue their education remotely on campus. This generosity allowed the College to remain flexible and responsive in the face of change, and had a direct and immediate impact on students while also laying the groundwork for the success of students in years to come.

With the unique challenges we are facing today, the College’s commitment to providing a highly individualized, world-class education to every admitted student, regardless of their ability to pay, has never been more important. The ability to create new opportunities in the age of virtual learning and social distancing is as crucial as ever. Providing unrestricted funds to the College through the Pioneer Fund, which Grinnell can expend as needed and as opportunities for growth continue to arise, gives the College the flexibility needed to adapt to an ever-changing world.

While challenging, this moment in time presents an occasion to create new connections, opportunities, and relationships that will allow our community to evolve and rapidly adapt to current and future circumstances.

To that end, ongoing support for each of the campaign’s priorities remains crucial. It is vital that we not only maintain, but strengthen the Grinnell community; to increase diversity and equity among our ranks, create opportunities for current and future students, and support each other as we continue to leave our mark on a world that sorely needs more Grinnellians.

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