Empowering Futures | Western Michigan University

A woman wearing graduation regalia smiles outside on campus. — "To create a bright future for all"

Student centered, transformational and responsive to the needs of students today, the Empowering Futures Gift creates pipelines for success and pathways to graduation, increases retention and improves student resilience.

First announced in June 2021, the transformative $550 million Empowering Futures Gift remains the largest gift for a public institution in U.S. history. Generous alumni donors gave this historic philanthropic contribution to the WMU Foundation to remove barriers that often keep underrepresented and underserved students from starting their collegiate journey or seeing it through to graduation.

Establishing the Empowering Futures Gift

The anonymous donors earmarked their record-breaking gift— which is forward thinking in design, scope and size—to WMU, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and Bronco Athletics.

Read the announcement

What does the Empowering Futures Gift support?

At Western, holistic support services are at the center of Empowering Futures to provide a strong foundation for Broncos to learn, thrive and persist to graduation.

A student sitting at a table with other students.

Scholarships

Incoming and current students can receive direct financial support through scholarships, like the Bronco Promise, Bronco Connect and Tenacity Award, and paid internships through Broncos Lead.

Support

The Navigator Network and Mental Health Peer Educators are just some of the services through Empowering Futures that support student belonging and well-being.

News about Empowering Futures

A professor works with a student in a greenhouse next to audio equipment.

WMU announces new class of Experience-Driven Learning Venture Grant recipients

Grant Overbeek and Maddy Boguslawski hold a page of a book near a press.

Broncos Lead interns learn the forgotten art of making books

Broncos Lead internship unlocks sport management student's potential

Broncos Lead interns learn life skills in the legal field

Product design major gets a broad range of internship experience through Broncos Lead Internship Program

Alumni share their entrepreneurial spirit with Broncos Lead interns

Broncos Lead interns grow job skills by helping kids grow in their love of nature

Broncos Lead Internship Program makes impactful debut

First crop of Broncos Lead interns grows interest in sustainable farming

Broncos Lead intern pursues passion for early child development at preschool

Music therapy student finds belonging through mental health advocacy

Empowering Futures takes student support to new levels

New Broncos Lead Internship Program will benefit students, Kalamazoo community

First cohort finding success, belonging in new Bronco Connect Living Learning Community

Empowering Futures already making impact on student success

New Empowering Futures Community promotes exploration, campus engagement at Western

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