Why Fund Knox?

Knox is committed to the power of experience.

We believe that every experience is a kind of education. Everything you learn in the classroom gains value when you apply it. And when you take that experience out into the so-called real world, you discover that it works for you and for your community. 

Knox College uses its resources to support students as they try new experiences—independent study, creative projects, immersion terms, volunteer work, and more—because we recognize that experience will help them think critically and creatively, communicate clearly, adapt to new technologies, and navigate today's interdependent and interconnected world. 

Knox is a leader in sustainability.

The College has won awards and earned national rankings for its efforts in this area, including the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges. Knox’s Office of Sustainability was created in 2012 to support, encourage, market, and advocate for sustainability across all departments and at all levels of the Knox Community. The Knox Farm grows almost 2,000 lbs of food a year for the Hard Knox Cafe, and reduces the volume of waste Knox sends to the landfill by composting food waste from its main two dining facilities. 

Knox supports diversity.

Since its founding by anti-slavery activists in 1837, Knox College has been a mission-driven institution, and that mission is a commitment to diversity: Knox College is a community of individuals from diverse backgrounds challenging each other to explore, understand and improve ourselves, our society and our world. The College’s enrollment demographics reflect this commitment to access. Compared with 26 similar liberal arts colleges in the Great Lakes Colleges’ Association or the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Knox consistently ranks near the top for percentage of U.S. citizens / permanent residents who are students of color (36.3%). In the 2023 Best College Rankings from U.S. News & World Report, Knox ranked in the top 50 liberal arts colleges in social mobility and is ranked 25th in the 2023 New York Times College Access index.

Knox serves the community.

The College is active in the local Galesburg community and offers programs that integrate students into the community. Washington Monthly ranks Knox #31 among more than 200 national liberal arts colleges for its contributions to the public good. Knox students serve in the community for many local non-profit organizations, schools, and charities. In addition, the College participates in extensive voter registration for its students to encourage their civic engagement. Through the Mark & Jeannette Kleine Center for Community Service Knox students contribute thousands of hours of service every year via established partnerships and special programs, including days of service. The Knox JusticeCorps continues to serve the Knox County Courthouse with student volunteers. Each volunteer serves 300 hours or more in the Courthouse. Considered a "Best Practice" within the state of Illinois, the George Washington Gale Scholars Program is a collaborative three-way partnership between Knox, local school District 205, and Carl Sandburg College (the area community college), to encourage and support higher education aspirations and success for academically promising first-generation and income-eligible youth within the community.