Dear AU community,

As we kick off a new academic year, we are excited to share philanthropy’s impact across American University and the momentum it has created. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, donors, partners, and foundations, AU exceeded its FY26 fundraising goal, securing more than $61.1 million in new commitments to support our community.

This achievement comes at an important moment for AU. As we continue to implement our Meet Our Moment strategic plan, we build on the strengths that distinguish us:  the unique blend of scholarship that catapulted us to R1 status with the emphasis on teaching and learning in the best of liberal art traditions; an unparalleled location and network in Washington, D.C.; and one of the nation’s top study abroad programs.

And we focus on ensuring every Eagle graduates ready for what comes next. Through our new AU Ready internship pledge, we are working to make a funded internship experience a defining part of an AU education, helping to reduce financial barriers and ensure students can build skills, expand their networks, test their ambitions, and enter the workforce with confidence.

Philanthropy helps turn these commitments into opportunities students can see and feel every day. In FY26, donor gifts raised $4.4 million for student scholarships, including nearly $700,000 for internships and experiential learning. The AU Fund for Excellence met its $1.2 million goal, contributing to a total of $9.1 million in flexible support for areas of greatest need, including student scholarships. And $51.1 million in cash giving, the most in AU history, provides immediate resources while strengthening AU’s financial foundation.

The results can be seen across campus. Last year’s opening of the Alan and Amy Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance and Sports Center Annex reflects a historic investment in the student experience. The formal dedication of the Linda A. and H. Kent Baker School of Education‚ the first named school of education in Washington, D.C.‚ marks another extraordinary milestone.

Across our schools, donor support opens doors. At theSchool of Communication, alumni generosity has helped students learn directly from the industries they hope to enter through career intensives in New York and Los Angeles, industry networking, and global learning opportunities.

At the Kogod School of Business, philanthropy advances AI-focused research and teaching, including work supported by Google.org (Google’s philanthropic arm) and the Special Competitive Studies Project. Alumnus Michael G. Rosenberg permanently endowed the student-run Eagle Venture Seed Fund, giving students firsthand experience evaluating early-stage investments and managing real capital. The donor-supported Freedom Media Innovation Lab‚ a combined initiative of Kogod’s Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship and the School of Communication, provides entrepreneurship training, seed funding, and incubator access for former Voice of America and U.S. Agency for Global Media journalists. This project will help journalists become entrepreneurs and expand access to independent news that Voice of America previously provided for millions of people around the world.

At the Baker School of Education, scholarships are helping future educators pursue their goals, while philanthropic investments are advancing teaching excellence far beyond AU. At the School of Public Affairs and Washington College of Law, donors are strengthening civic learning, public-service education, research, clinical experiences, and fellowships that prepare students to lead in rapidly changing fields.

Across the board, we saw increased commitment and shared success. AU Giving Day surpassed $1 million for the first time in its 12-year history, raising a record $1.25 million from more than 3,300 donors. More than 75,400 donors supported AU, including 15,697 first-time donors. Every gift of every size reflects belief in AU’s work and trust in the people who carry it forward.  Even Dave’s Summit for Scholarships bike ride raised $175,000 for student scholarships.

As we look ahead to FY27, we are ready to build on this momentum. Together, we can continue to create opportunity, invest in excellence, and ensure every Eagle is prepared to meet the moment.

With gratitude and excitement,

Dave Marchick
Interim President

Matthew Eynon
Vice President of University Advancement