David Peters, PhD, makes the donation to Washington University in St. Louis, but the money goes to students like Ramin Modarres, a PhD candidate whose research will change the way helicopter pilots learn to fly.
Peters is the McDonnell Douglas Professor of Engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science and a donor to WUSTL for 36 consecutive years. He calls his gift an investment in the future.
“Washington University students are accomplishing great things,” Peters said. “We all benefit from their hard work and ideas.”
This week, Washington University launches Our Washington, Together We Make a Difference, the faculty and staff component of Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University. All employees are asked to contribute to the school, program or fund that matters most to them, whether it supports scholarships, the annual fund or another initiative.
“Washington University’s strategic plan, Plan For Excellence, sets a course for Washington University to continue to build on its successes and further strengthen its efforts to address society’s most urgent problems,” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said. “The overarching goal of the Plan for Excellence is ‘to enhance our leadership today to benefit America and the world tomorrow,’ and our Leading Together campaign will provide necessary resources to implement our plan. To respond to the complex issues of today, we must anticipate the challenges of the future and prepare to meet them. This will require our best work and our most creative ideas. We have the knowledge, experience, and the intellectual capital across the Danforth and Medical campuses to lead in finding solutions to these challenges.”
Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University began in March 2009 with a three-year silent phase. It has raised $1.47 billion, including $16 million from some 2,500 employees. The goal is to raise a minimum of $2.2 billion by 2018. Donations will fund scholarships, support academic and scientific initiatives, endow professorships, build new facilities and advance the scholarship, research and creative potential of every student.
Employees are asked to give at a level that feels comfortable to them. Wrighton said every gift, big or small, is powerful. Money may pay for programs, but participation has its own value — it demonstrates to potential donors and prospective students a shared commitment to excellence.
“When we approach foundations and major donors for funding, it’s a powerful and influential thing to be able to show that our own employees support our mission and vision enough to make a financial contribution,” Wrighton said. “All gifts from our faculty and staff, at whatever financial level, help move us toward our goal of making Washington University a better and more sustainable place.”
Employees may donate through a monthly payroll deduction, online or by mail. Bequests and planned gifts also count toward Our Washington. Donors of every level will receive a WUSTL travel mug.
More than 130 faculty and staff volunteers from every school and the Central Fiscal Unit are working on behalf of the campaign. Volunteer Andria West, director of facilities and operations at the Brown School, said every employee has a stake in helping the university reach its goal.
“We can all take pride in being part of this community,” West said. “Not everyone can say they work for an institution that is making a real difference in the world. We can, and that’s something I want to support.”
Frequently Asked Questions
I am already a donor to the university. Do I need to make an additional gift to participate in Our Washington?
Gifts made since March 1, 2009, will count toward Our Washington. Employees are encouraged to make a multiyear commitment through the end of the campaign, which ends June 30, 2018.
What is the difference between a restricted and an unrestricted gift?
An unrestricted gift is designated to a school or department and can be used for any important priority. Unrestricted gifts also can be designated for undergraduate or graduate scholarships in any school. A restricted gift is designated for a specific purpose such as a research project, facilities, endowment, etc. For more information, please contact Alumni and Development staff.
Do faculty and staff normally participate in university campaigns?
All recent major campaigns at WUSTL have included a faculty and staff component. Most comprehensive campaigns undertaken by major higher education institutions include an opportunity for faculty and staff participation.
Will I be recognized for participating in Our Washington?
Unless you indicate otherwise, your name will appear in the “Honor Roll of Donors,” which lists donors in order of giving level and will be published next fall.