From the President
The SIU Foundation: Driving Transformative Change for Southern Illinois University
The SIU Foundation proudly acts as an accelerator for Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Let me explain exactly what that means.
It means asking our alumni and friends to dream big. It means bridging the financial gap for students, supporting faculty research and connecting alumni with their alma mater. It means effecting transformative change throughout campus. I am extremely proud of the work done by the SIU Foundation as it helps drive this university forward.
Our most recent fiscal year, covered in this Annual Report, is a testament to this mission. We smashed fundraising records, hosted more events than ever before and awarded more scholarships to more students. It was a dynamic year, and I am excited to see what the future holds.
The Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign continues to reach new heights, surpassing $350 million of our $500 million goal. This is the fifth largest such campaign in the history of higher education in Illinois.
The SIU Foundation raised nearly $47 million in FY24, a whopping 51 percent increase over FY23. We increased the amount of scholarship dollars awarded to over $5.4 million, helping over 1,840 students. More than 16 percent of all SIU students received a Foundation scholarship, which is a new high.
During the annual SIU Day of Giving, we raised more than $3.1 million from 2,669 donors, a truly incredible feat. For the fourth straight year, our staff hosted a live online broadcast from the WSIU-TV studio on campus, featuring every college, school and fundraising unit.
We hosted Saluki Takeover Tours in Chicago, Springfield, Florida, Nashville, St. Louis, Southern Illinois, and Hollywood, visiting high schools, community colleges, corporate partners, engaging with thousands of alumni, and raising over $1.2 million.
Some of our most resolute supporters made visionary gifts, which will reverberate through generations. More than 100 women came together for the Saluki Women’s Weekend. More than 500 gathered to bridge the gap for students during the Saluki Ball in Chicago. The donor and student stories in this report showcase the impact made every day by the SIU Foundation.
These are just the highlights from a truly historic year, and there are more incredible things on the horizon.
With dynamic leaders and dedicated staff, exciting times are ahead for the SIU Foundation. As we look toward the future – including our new home in the Tedrick Welcome Center – we will continue to ask how we can support the bold vision set by university leadership.
Diane Compardo President, SIU Foundation Board
