Through a record-breaking Day of Giving and more than $18 million in newly documented estate commitments, Butler University donors gave generously during the 2023-24 fiscal year to the tune of more than $34 million in total gifts and commitments. The total includes the significant $2.5 million gift from Marianne Glick ʼ73 MS ʼ74 and Mike Woods to support the launch of Founder’s College.

“On behalf of Butler University, I am deeply grateful to the nearly 13,000 donors who chose to invest in our mission and in the lives of our students by making a gift this year,” Jonathan Purvis, Vice President for University Advancement, says. “Thanks to your loyalty and philanthropic partnership, we were able to dream big this year about new academic programs, student services, campus upgrades, and even a new College, all for the benefit of current and future Bulldogs. We look forward to seeing the many ways these gifts will enhance a Butler education in the months and years to come.”

During Butler’s ninth annual Day of Giving February 28-29, donors gave a record-breaking $653,670, including more than $82,000 from first-time Butler donors. The total came from 2,594 gifts, representing an increase of almost 800 gifts and more than $150,000 over the previous year’s Day of Giving. This year’s festivities included Men’s Basketball watch parties in 11 cities around the country as alumni communities gathered to give back and cheer on the Bulldogs together. 

Last November, the University announced its plan to launch a new two-year college as part of the Come to Believe Network. The college has since been named Founder’s College. In April, Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty was introduced as the inaugural Founder’s College Dean. Along with Marianne Glick and Mike Woods’ generous gift to fund facility renovations and provide operating support, the University has received more than $1 million in additional combined donations from individual and community partners to help launch the new College. This includes support from  the Lumina Foundation to equip the facility for the College’s inaugural class of students arriving in the fall of 2025.

Last December, Lilly Endowment, Inc., announced a $748,616 grant to Butler through its Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana initiative. The grant is supporting efforts that integrate Science of Reading-aligned principles into teacher preparation programs through the College of Education and its innovative community-based approach to literacy.

Foundation partners provided significant funding to other University initiatives across campus in the 2023-2024 academic year as well, with an emphasis on arts programs through the Jordan College of the Arts. A $343,000 Legacy Grant from the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation to support the Christel DeHaan Visiting International Theatre Artist (VITA) program was a particular highlight for the Butler Theatre program.

Last October, President Danko and Board Chair Jeff Blade ʼ83 welcomed 27 new honorees into the Carillon Society, Butler’s premier lifetime philanthropic giving society. During the 2023-2024 year, 33 new honorees reached the $100,000 cumulative giving threshold and will be inducted into the Carillon Society at this year’s ceremony in the fall. There are currently 437 living honorees in the Carillon Society, the most since the group’s inception in 2018.

Earlier this year, the Butler Giving Circle (BGC) selected the Fund to Support Student Mental Health as its next priority partner. In June, this year’s 70 BGC shareholders voted to award their fifth annual community partnership grant to the Future Black Leaders student group of Fishers High School to support its Black Student Leadership Summit hosted on Butler’s campus. The grant will allow for 400 Central Indiana students to attend the 2025 leadership summit, the most in the event’s history.

Philanthropic gifts fuel our mission. The Office of University Advancement exists to match the Butler community’s philanthropic interests with University needs in support of our strategic direction. Make a gift today or learn more about Butler’s current giving priorities.