Lander Foundation Celebrates Monumental Fundraising Year for Lander University

For thousands of Lander University students, a rewarding Lander education begins with scholarships made possible through generous gifts to The Lander Foundation. And according to Foundation officials, the 2025-26 fiscal year was one for the record books.

"We are deeply grateful for the incredible generosity of the Lander family as they helped us achieve a historic fundraising year for Lander University,” said Taylor Cook, vice president for advancement at Lander. “Every gift, no matter the size, helps advance our mission and makes a meaningful difference for our students, faculty and staff.”

Over the course of the fiscal year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026), The Lander Foundation
raised $3,547,099, highlighting significant progress year over year. These gifts were made by a total of 3,136 donors, from 45 U.S. states, making an average gift of $595 each (not including planned gifts). Cash gifts are also up over 16 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.

Most impressively, The Lander Foundation also established 12 new endowed scholarships this fiscal year. Meanwhile, the University’s endowment grew 14 percent, from $28 million to $32 million. In total, the Foundation awarded $890,000 in scholarships.

“With your support, we were able to grow our endowment to an all-time high, over $32 million, increasing the impact of scholarships for our students, while investing in our faculty and strengthening our programs through unrestricted support,” Cook told the Lander family.

New alumni giving is also on the rise, with 116 new alumni donors, up from 84 last semester. Additionally, The Lander Foundation received gifts from 294 new, current or past Lander parents. The prize for the class with the most alumni donors goes to the Lander Class of 1969, with over 11 percent of the class making a gift to The Lander Foundation. The class raising the highest dollar amount was the Lander Class of 1981, with $80,409.62 raised.

"This monumental fundraising year reflects our University's commitment to ensuring each student's success during their time at Lander," said Steve Bolton, who is a member of the Class of 1969, and chair of The Lander Foundation Board of Directors. "By continuing to meet our philanthropic milestones, The Lander Foundation is ensuring that current and future students can continue to have a rewarding Lander education without significant financial burden. This incredible support keeps a premier education accessible, empowering students to focus entirely on their dreams, and graduate ready to serve their communities."

Echoing Bolton, Lander senior Evelyn Monterrosas-Martinez said the Foundation’s scholarship assistance “has lifted a huge financial weight off my shoulders and will allow me to focus primarily on my education and goals.”

Meanwhile, Lander junior Ryleigh Ware told donors to The Lander Foundation that receiving scholarships were “both an honor and a tremendous relief.”

“Because of your generosity, I can focus more on my studies and personal growth, rather than worrying about how to afford my education,” Ware added.

For Lander President Richard Cosentino, the Foundation’s historic fundraising year reflects the trust the community continues to place in the University’s mission and future.

“The generosity of our alumni, donors and friends is a powerful testament to the confidence they have in Lander University, and in the exceptional work taking place every day in our classrooms,” he said. “We are thankful for the trust they have placed in us. They believe in the power of a Lander education, and their support is creating opportunities that will benefit students for generations to come.”