Baker University

Currently, 97% of Baker students receive funding to help pay for their education, and for some, this can make the difference between a dream and a reality. While some of their aid comes from federal grants and loans, for many of our students, the gap is bridged with endowed scholarships funded by Baker University alumni and friends. These endowed scholarships can make a college experience less stressful by allowing students to focus on their studies, gain leadership skills through extracurricular activities, and build relationships on campus that will last a lifetime. Endowed scholarships are critical because they provide permanent funding for programs on which students can count—year after year. Just as scholarships have made a difference in the lives of those who have received them, they have also made a difference in the university as a whole. A gift of an endowed scholarship enables a donor’s impact to last well into the future, and it enables the university to attract and retain generations of high-achieving and deserving students. As enrollment in each of our schools continues to grow, the need for scholarships has never been greater. Your support will help deserving men and women at each of our campuses earn a Baker University degree.

Professors at Baker University know their students and are personally committed to their success from the moment they step into their classroom. Not only does our faculty motivate students inside the classroom, but they also engage them as partners and colleagues in research and discovery. Competition is intense for the best faculty, particularly at a private liberal arts university like Baker. Endowed professorships advance the university by encouraging excellence in teaching and providing significant opportunities for our faculty members. Gifts for endowed professorships enable the university to hire the best and the brightest faculty members—a necessity for a university to remain competitive. Endowed professorships also help fund collaborative efforts that promote student participation and interdisciplinary teamwork.

Throughout our lifetime, most of us strive to make a difference in the lives of others. We give back, as we are able, to charities and organizations that are near and dear to our hearts, and for many, that includes Baker University. But as many of us make plans for the future, we must think about the legacy we want to leave after we’re gone. We must think about how to make the world a better place for future generations. Through a planned gift you can ensure that Baker University will keep its doors open to qualified students and continue to offer life-changing opportunities at all four of our schools. Endowed unrestricted gifts pay tribute to the role Baker has played in our lives and allows donors to give back in a way that will sustain the university for generations to come. Planned gifts provide for a future gift to Baker through your financial and estate plans. Your support of Baker University honors and maintains our rich tradition of academic excellence and student engagement in a respectful, inviting, and values-based learning community. Donors who include Baker University in their estate plans are inducted into the Pulliam Society, an honorary association of donors recognized and appreciated by the university.

At Baker University, students form the core of our mission: They are the reason we exist. They will become the next generation of leaders, hard-hitting journalists, scientist at the forefront of life-changing research, and entrepreneurs that alter the landscape of the business world. Through the Forever Orange campaign, we have identified the study abroad experience and much-needed technology upgrades as important facets of the student experience.

The physical landscape of our college campus is ever changing, and we must continue to meet the needs of the 21st century college student. As Baker University continues to redefine itself, our learning and living spaces must also be redefined and reimagined. Investing in our campus and facilities is essential for creating the exceptional learning experiences that will continue to attract exceptional students. Our athletic and performance spaces must be modernized. Our facilities must match the talents and aspirations of the students, faculty, and staff that use and depend on them. This campaign will revitalize and build spaces that bring the entire Baker community together. Capital improvement projects as part of the comprehensive campaign include, but are not limited to, additional renovations to Rice Auditorium, improvements to our athletic facilities, and much-needed updates to various academic buildings on our Baldwin City campus.