You might be surprised to learn how much it benefits a college or university to receive donations.

The cost of tuition alone does not allow a school to reach its funding goals — that requires donations, which support student scholarships, academic and athletic programs, new and renovated buildings, special projects, and more.

Alma College is no different. Alumni, family and friends of the college know first-hand the impact that Alma can have on a student’s life. They understand their gifts don’t need to be large to be meaningful. Small donations can make a big impact.

Below are three reasons that donors support Alma College, along with personal alumni perspectives on why they give back to their alma mater.

  • Save the date for Alma Day on Thursday, March 13, 2025! We’ll join together to celebrate and support all the things that make Alma College special. Follow the Alma College Alumni Association on Facebook for more information.
Supporting students

Gifts to Alma support the education of current and future students. Many students face challenges in affording college expenses and depend on scholarships for assistance. Donations to the Scot Scholarship Fund or individual scholarship funds play a crucial role in funding these awards, making higher education more accessible for future students and their families.

Sustaining what we have

College and universities, particularly private ones, frequently depend on endowments to sustain their operations. Donor contributions are a significant source of funding for these endowments, which provide great stability for the college’s current and  future needs.

Being thankful

Whether you, your child, or someone you love attended Alma, you know that an Alma College can transform a student’s life trajectory by recognizing and nurturing their talents and interests. Caring faculty and staff, small class sizes and hands-on learning opportunities empower Alma students to explore their passion and turn it into a life — and career — they genuinely love. Giving back is a meaningful way to show gratitude and enable a new generation of students to have that same experience.

Personal perspectives
  • “We feel it’s important to do our part to ensure that students have the same opportunities for life-changing experiences that we had during our time at Alma College. That’s why we donate.” — Matthew (Yettaw) ’15 and Ashley Yuill ‘13
  • “We didn’t get to where we were as students because of one person — it’s always been a whole community coming together to make Alma College special. Every little bit counts. Even if a donation is small, it makes an impact.” — Samantha (Coykendall) Garvie ‘15
  • “There’s no better way to have an impact on your alma mater than to make a donation. Some people get concerned that they aren’t giving enough, but every gift helps.” — Melinda (Messmer) Leonardo ‘01