Your Gifts at Work: Alumni Dollars Support Students Every Step of the Way

Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2015

You’ve Been Admitted!

Coming to Northwestern University is a lifelong dream for many students, but the financial barriers can seem insurmountable. Thanks in part to donors like you—our community of the most generous and loyal alumni, family, and friends—the University will award approximately $160 million in scholarships and grants to undergraduates in 2015‒16. This unprecedented support will allow Northwestern to provide aid for students from middle- and low-income families. About 60 percent of Northwestern’s undergraduate students receive financial aid from the University.

Now What?

Students arrive at Northwestern with dreams of being inspired academically, participating in co-curricular activities, and reaching beyond their comfort zones to grow in ways they can’t even imagine. Gifts from donors help provide the funds that fill in the gaps between a classroom education and a transformative experience.

One excellent example of this is the Student Activity Scholarship Fund (SASF), established in 2012 to enable every student to participate fully in clubs, teams, and organizations. Student groups such as dance teams, service organizations, and a cappella groups often require members to pay for trips, supplies, and competitions. The SASF helps reduce the financial burden of these activities, thus ensuring all interested students can take advantage of activities that enhance their college experience beyond the classroom.

Since 2013, gifts from donors like you have funded 302 students to participate in activities they may otherwise have missed out on. These worthwhile scholarships range from $25 to $500—proof that every gift makes an impact.

Ready for the Real World!

Part of Northwestern’s obligation to its students is to prepare them for professional careers or post-graduate opportunities by building the skills, confidence, and experience they need to succeed and thrive. The Summer Internship Grant Program (SIGP) enables students to pursue unpaid internships and explore their career options without financial constraint or worry. The program affords students the chance to gain valuable real-world experience and professional development opportunities at unpaid internships, giving them a competitive edge in a tough job market.

Over the past few years, gifts from loyal and generous donors supported 220 students in internships that set them on the path to careers that fulfilled their passions. This spring, the program received a record-setting 411 applications. To fully meet the need of students, SIGP increased grant amounts to $3,000 per student and set a goal to increase the number of awards.