Empowering Futures

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.

Empowering Futures

The Empowering Futures Gift helps Western Michigan University students afford college and stay on track to graduate. When it was announced in 2021, the $550 million gift from anonymous alumni donors was the largest ever made to a public university in the U.S. A portion of the gift supports students from admission through graduation. Need-based scholarships and housing aid lower the cost of attending. Navigation specialists work to reach students before a small problem becomes a barrier to finishing their degrees. Paid internships connect coursework to careers, and mental health and essential needs resources round out that support.
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What does the Empowering Futures 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.

Cass Davis sits on the ground with their legs crossed.

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

Jadazay Ledbetter celebrates in her graduation regalia.

Supply chain grad leverages WMU experiences into a career

Arshpreet Singh stands with coworkers inside the Discover Kalamazoo office.

All in the numbers: Broncos Lead intern helps local tourist org make data-informed decisions

A student looking at a computer while someone's heart rate is taken on their finger.

WMU announces second 2025 cohort of Experience-Driven Learning Venture Grants

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

Gracie and Kzoo LEADERs staff

Broncos Lead internship unlocks sport management student's potential

Stephanie Smietana and Alecia Freeman

Broncos Lead interns learn life skills in the legal field

Isabella Waite pours a clay mixture into a measuring cup.

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

Joshua Gray, Eli Rynkiewicz, Gloria Park and Donovan McVey

Alumni share their entrepreneurial spirit with Broncos Lead interns

Mary Howe, Gabe Bresnahan, Jenna Robinson and Nora Selheimer stand together to pose for a photo.

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

A group of people sits at a table in a conference room looking at a laptop computer.

Broncos Lead Internship Program makes impactful debut

A student works in a farm field.

First crop of Broncos Lead interns grows interest in sustainable farming

Allison Hoeksema reads.

Broncos Lead intern pursues passion for early child development at preschool

Cass Davis sits on the ground with their legs crossed.

Music therapy student finds belonging through mental health advocacy

Two students sit at a desk in front of a computer.

Empowering Futures takes student support to new levels

A student kneels next to a machine while talking to a mentor at his internship.

New Broncos Lead Internship Program will benefit students, Kalamazoo community

Students sit together in a lounge.

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

Ashley Bravo at the Empowering Futures Work Group Kickoff.

Empowering Futures already making impact on student success

Elizabeth \\\\\\E.J.\\\\\\\ Taylor makes a heart with her hands in front of her face.\""

New Empowering Futures Community promotes exploration, campus engagement at Western