University Governance
WGU Advancement
Making a Difference for Individuals
Since its founding, WGU Advancement has dedicated itself to making high-quality, career-based education affordable and attainable for all by increasing and improving access to higher education and accelerating innovations in learning on behalf of students. WGU Advancement partners with foundations, corporations, associations, employees, students, and alumni to support scholarships, explore new learning models, and implement new technologies that reinvigorate the promise of higher education.
Access to Opportunity
Talent is everywhere, but access to opportunity is not. Higher education is the best way to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, and WGU Advancement is committed to expanding access to better support learners.
There are many ways to create opportunities through WGU. You can donate to scholarships, the student emergency aid fund, broadband access, and the development of other projects at WGU that identify and knock down barriers to higher education. By helping these initiatives, more students can enroll in college, earn their degrees, and achieve their dreams.
Accelerating Innovation
Traditional higher education wasn't built for the realities facing many of today's students. At WGU, we innovate with students in mind, giving them the flexibility and freedom they need to succeed.
Donors who support innovation at WGU join us by investing in the future of education. Since WGU Advancement's launch, we have been privileged to work with some of the nation's leading philanthropic foundations and corporations committed to investing in the future of higher education.
WGU Is Changing Higher Education and WGU Advancement Makes It Possible
Since its founding, WGU has attracted the attention and support of generous contributors who recognize the need to reinvent higher education and who share our vision of affordable, accessible higher education for all. If you're passionate about giving people an opportunity to advance their careers and achieve their dreams, we invite you to join us by making a gift to support our work. Your gift—whatever the amount—will change the lives of students and their families.
—Annalisa Holcombe
President, WGU Advancement
Advancement, By the Numbers
WGU Advancement had a banner year in 2020—particularly when it came to enabling us to support our students through a global pandemic.
3,084 donors contributed 10,605 gifts totaling $9,372,502 in 2020.
Of all gifts received, 16.9% were from alumni, 3.6% were from students, 74.4% were from staff and faculty, 4.1% were from WGU Board members and friends, and 1% were from foundations and corporations.
Our donors helped raise $690,123 for scholarships including the WGU Employees Give Back Scholarship, the Fellow Night Owls Scholarship, and the Online Access Scholarship.
We raised $159,072 for the WGU Student Emergency Aid Fund, established in March as the pandemic rippled across the country. The fund provided more than 4,500 students with emergency non-tuition aid in 2020.