Endowment growth is a priority. Augustana provides an education of enduring worth that is rooted in its mission, core values, and—significantly—a strong and growing institutional endowment. By creating endowed funds, donors committed to the College’s mission can support both their own values and College needs in perpetuity. Endowment is ultimately the most important guarantee of institutional excellence, generation after generation. Endowment growth positively impacts access, excellence and capacity. At Augustana, we will increase Scholarships, fund Distinguished Professorships and Chairs, provide Faculty & Staff Development, create “Funds of Excellence” to support and grow programs of distinction and high impact, and provide other social and community experiences for all undergraduates.

The following are specific opportunities to support endowment priorities:

Named Scholarships

Attracting an academically gifted student body is a competitive enterprise in higher education today. Cost is critical to the decision process for prospective students and families. Augustana is seeking major gift support to build permanent scholarship funding based on area of study, academic achievement, financial need, geography and student diversity, talent participation (such as the arts and athletics), study abroad and more.

Endowed Faculty Positions

Highest distinction is earned by top-performing professors who also demonstrate important leadership acumen. Augustana must compete and win in the national marketplace for faculty who will shape, nurture and lead our academic programs. Named gifts will fully support the appointment of endowed faculty positions like Distinguished Chairs and Distinguished Professorships for faculty who demonstrate exceptional scholarship and leadership.

Faculty & Staff Scholarship and Research

Annual earnings from this endowed fund will be available to support the continued scholarly, research and professional development opportunities for Augustana faculty and staff. Investing in our human capital is a major goal for the College. These faculty enhancement opportunities are integral to the quality of our students’ experiences.

Funds of Excellence

In a campaign, some prospective donors will seek to build value in unique ways. Named funds will help us to build excellence in graduate and professional studies in the natural sciences and social sciences, international programs, visual & performing arts, athletics, humanities, education and business.

New Opportunities

Two exceptional new opportunities have emerged at Augustana. Each has a unique connection to one of our core values and further elevates our standing in communities we serve.

The Luther House of Study, an important new Biblical instruction, research and service arm of the College, will provide capacity-building support to Lutheran congregations throughout the region. Our goal is to permanently endow this program at $3 million.

The Augustana College and South Dakota Symphony Partnership is a collaboration that will utilize four professional strings players to serve the College in teaching, mentoring and outreach roles, while also performing with the Symphony. Our goal is to permanently endow our share of the partnership with a $2 million named gift.