In a year of change, Dukes deliver

During a year of leadership transitions, Dukes remained steadfast in their commitment to JMU philanthropy in the second fiscal year after the conclusion of the Unleashed campaign. They gave nearly $28.1 million in charitable gifts to JMU in FY24 — topping the previous year’s total by more than $650,000. In fact, FY24 giving was the second highest in JMU history and the highest outside of a campaign.

Following the departure of former President Jonathan R. Alger for American University, veteran senior vice president Charles W. King came out of retirement to serve as interim president during the national search for Alger’s successor. In addition, longtime College of Integrated Science and Technology Dean Robert Kolvoord took the academic reins as interim provost until a permanent appointment is made. Meanwhile, the university stepped into the national spotlight as the Dukes celebrated several elite hires in Athletics.

“When I was a JMU student in the ’90s, my friend and fellow alum, Kevin Grunkemeyer (’98), used to say, ‘Change is inevitable, progress is optional.’ It’s true. While we are in a time of significant transition, the university continues to progress, and your increased giving in FY24 is fuel for our continued ascent.” said Nick Langridge (’00, ’07M, ’14Ph.D.), vice president for University Advancement.

Carrier Library expansion

JMU’s most conspicuous campus undertaking — and a vital ongoing fundraising priority — drew almost half a million dollars in commitments in FY24, as donors made gifts to name special spaces in a renovated and expanded Carrier Library. Dukes also pledged another almost $85,000 in support of other aspects of the library. 

Due to reopen in Fall 2026, Carrier Library will feature a gleaming 55,000-square-foot addition and a comprehensive update of existing facilities that honors the historical integrity of the original 1930s building. This library of the future will meet the needs of the next generation of students and is destined to become not only the intellectual crossroads of campus but an impressive literal crossroads as well.

“Cranes on campus are another sign of progress at JMU, and the expansion of Carrier Library is a significant investment in the academic enterprise of this university,” Langridge said. “Our library and its vast operations across campus make a direct impact on each and every JMU student and faculty member, so these philanthropic naming opportunities are proving to be a great fit for our donors.”

Dukes have named spaces special to them, including study spaces, labs and reading rooms, while grand entrances, classrooms, galleries, suites, studios, meeting rooms and other areas of significance are waiting to be named.

“Carrier Library will remain a significant giving priority well into the future,” Langridge added.

$6 million pioneering gift 

The $6 million estate of the late Col. Frances Weir (’49) led donor giving in FY24, making a pioneering impact on JMU scholarships through a single gift. Weir graduated from Madison College with a business degree and was an esteemed colonel in the U.S. Women’s Army Corps, serving with distinction in Vietnam, the Pentagon and various military posts. Upon her passing last fall, Weir bequeathed her $6 million estate to student scholarships at JMU: the university’s largest cash gift and largest gift solely for scholarships. The Frances Weir (’49) Endowed Scholarship will enable the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to award approximately $240,000 annually in scholarship funds in perpetuity. Her endowment supports students who demonstrate financial need and who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher with scholarships that are renewable for three years.

Record donor high adds up

While Col. Weir’s gift was the largest and most attention-getting of the year, donors of all giving levels were more enthusiastic than ever. A record 24,586 Dukes gave to JMU in FY24, up more than 7,000 donors from FY23, with alumni donors celebrating a five-year high in participation. 

“Collective giving back to JMU is on the rise, and we are seeing the e pluribus unum — or “All Together One” — spirit of philanthropy inspire donations of all sizes from all generations of Dukes. Together you are making a demonstrable difference,” Langridge said.

More than 16,000 gifts of $150 or less accounted for more than $1 million given in FY24.  Just over $3.1 million came from 21,584 gifts of $1,000 or less.

JMU Giving Day, which celebrates the impact of giving together, returned with grand effect. Over 24 hours, 5,124 Dukes gave more than $1 million to 106 campus causes. 

Many of this year’s donors have made it a habit to give: 10,512 are considered Forever Loyal, with 485 giving for 25 or more years; 1,862 donors giving for 15 to 24 years; and 8,365 giving for 2 to 14 years.

Sun Belt success pushes giving to $7.6 million

Of the $28.1 million in total giving last year, giving to athletics reached $7.6 million, reflecting JMU’s success in the Sun Belt, the return of men’s basketball to the NCAA March Madness tournament and the hire of several respected sports leaders, including athletics director Matt Roan, Football Coach Bob Chesney and Basketball Coach Preston Spradlin. The popularity of football, including JMU’s first-ever bowl game and JMU’s third ESPN College GameDay with a record breaking 26,000 Dukes in attendance, also buoyed giving. With six nationally ranked teams and a .609 average overall winning percentage, support continues for the “Everything School.”

Corporation and foundation highlights

Funding from corporations and private foundations remained solid in FY24 at $6.2 million. Notably, JMU X-Labs launched the Reimagined Internship program thanks to a generous $100,000 gift from founding partner Ellucian. The X-Labs program empowers JMU students to work collaboratively on cross-disciplinary teams innovating solutions to problems identified by the industry partner. Over the summer, student teams had the opportunity to implement their solution through a paid internship onsite with Ellucian. Corporate and Foundation Relations along with X-Labs are on the lookout for additional industry partners who seek solutions from student teams for their companies in order to expand this novel program.

In FY24, as it looks ahead to its fourth once-a-decade worldwide conference in September, the Furious Flower Poetry Center received yet another grant, this time for $40,000 from the Poetry Foundation. The grant will be used to support Furious Flower poetry programming, including the September conference, that will have an impact on JMU students, scholars and the local community.

Scholarships

Private contributions to scholarships totaled more than $11.4 million, up $6 million from FY23, primarily due to the Weir estate gift. During the 2023-24 school year, 4,442 Dukes gave to scholarships and student support, and the impact added up. With the university’s emphasis on scholarships and the generosity of the JMU community, more than 2,515 JMU students received scholarships in FY24. These funds support current students and enable promising and deserving high school seniors to say "yes" to JMU. 

Endowed funds

Donors gave nearly $9.8 million in endowed funds to JMU, an increase of almost 57 percent from FY23, also due in large part to the Weir gift. Endowed gifts are invested in the stock market to build the corpus plus yield a yearly expendable award for the donors’ gift designation, providing funding in perpetuity.

Wills and bequests

In addition to the Weir bequest, nearly $500,000 in past planned gifts were realized in FY24. Donors also arranged to give $6 million in future support through bequests, wills and other estate planning, an increase of more than $1 million from FY23. More than 90 of these Dukes made use of JMU’s free online will-planning tools to protect their assets and their families, while some of them also reported that they included JMU in their wills for a total of almost $227,000 in future support.

Unrestricted giving

FY24 unrestricted giving rose to $561,286, a 7.5% increase from FY23, from 4,625 Dukes. They made gifts ranging in size from $1 to $40,000 to the Madison Vision Fund, the Madison Fund and the Parents and Families Fund. These flexible dollars provide a foundation for JMU leaders to seize emerging opportunities and address urgent needs.

Still have questions about why philanthropic giving to JMU is vital to the Madison Experience? Find answers here.