University Advancement, Foundation report another record-breaking giving day

Above, students gather for a business course in Colden Hall on the Northwest campus. The sixth annual Bearcat Day of Green giving campaign at Northwest recently raised funding for initiatives that included academic support, scholarships and student life. (Photo by Lilly Cook/Northwest Missouri State University)

The sixth annual Bearcat Day of Green giving campaign at Northwest Missouri State University broke records yet again for the institution and its fundraising branch.

During a span of 1,905 minutes - a tribute to Northwest's founding year - 417 donors provided gifts totaling $219,713 for University initiatives. This year's fundraising total increased by nearly 17 percent from the previous record amount of $188,384 raised during last year's Bearcat Day of Green.

Donors also helped Northwest meet all 41 of the giving campaign's "challenges," which centered on University initiatives and were unlocked based on a predetermined number of donations or giving amounts. Those included the Joe & Kelly Quinlin Scholarship, which led all challenges with 59 donations, while department-specific scholarships earned the highest dollar amount, totaling $82,615.

Northwest's Office of University Advancement and the Northwest Foundation, which develops and stewards philanthropic resources for the benefit of the University and its students, organize the annual campaign.

"It's most gratifying to work with such generous people who collaborate across campus to yield record amounts of support for our students, faculty and staff," Mike Johnson, the vice president of university advancement and executive director of the Northwest Foundation Inc., said. "This effort allowed our team to challenge Bearcat believers to amass nearly $220,000 over 1,905 minutes. Combined with our academic and athletic partners, we collectively raised over $400,000 in FY26 during our Bleed Green and Day of Green giving days."

This year's Bearcat Day of Green centered on initiatives supporting academics, Bearcat athletics, the Northwest Fund, scholarships and student life.

Scholarship support remains a central mission of the Northwest Foundation, which secured $6.4 million in total giving during fiscal year 2025, including nearly $1.54 million that funded 1,577 scholarship awards.

Further, during the last fiscal year, the Foundation facilitated the creation of 16 endowed scholarships, established through gifts totaling a minimum of $25,000.

The Northwest Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, is governed by a 32-member volunteer board and staffed by members of Northwest's Office of University Advancement.

To make a gift to support Northwest, contact the Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248 or visit https://www.nwmissouri.edu/GiveOnline.