Ups, downs, and uncertainties were hallmarks of Knox’s 2021 fiscal year, and yet at least one thing remained constant: the Knox community’s steadfast commitment to support the College and our students. The College is profoundly grateful.

• Over 6,600 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends donated $11.5 million to Knox from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, including $5.3 million in current operating gifts, of which $270,000 was for the COVID-19 Relief Fund that provided our students and the College with emergency funds during this pivotal time.
• In addition, over $4 million in gifts continued to grow the Knox endowment, which surpassed $200 million last spring. These gifts allowed Knox to finish fundraising for phase one of a contemporary re-envisioning of the Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center. Gifts to the science center renovation honored the decadelong tenure of Teresa Amott as Knox’s 19th president. She retired June 30, 2021. Knox also made enhancements to the Prairie Fire soccer, baseball, and softball venues—with new scoreboards installed for each team.
• Supporters of Knox made the College’s third annual #KnoxProud Day a resounding success as 3,509 donors gave nearly $1.8 million in less than 24 hours. Those results far exceeded the goal of 2,867 donors, representing the number of graduates during President Amott’s years at Knox. The decades of the 1990s and 2000s had the largest increases in participation among all the competing decades of graduates. Over 380 attendees participated in at least one of the 22 virtual events that day.
• “If there is one commonality regarding why donors give back to Knox, it is because of how Knox changed their lives, and that legacy continues today,” said former Vice President for Advancement Beverly Holmes. “Students continue to come to Knox from across the nation and the world, driven by curiosity, engaged by big questions, and looking for their way to make their community and world a better place. Knox continues to be the place for them, and it changes their lives. Giving to  Knox makes it all possible.”