Whitman School Marks Anniversary of Remarkable Fundraising Success, Propelling Forward Its Journey of Transformation
The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University has achieved a remarkable milestone in its fundraising efforts, with the 2024-25 academic year marking the most successful cash fundraising year ever. This record-setting achievement is largely attributed to the Whitman Leadership Circle (WLC), a philanthropic leadership society that has mobilized leadership-level donors committed to the school's ambitious future growth.
Launched in the fall of 2024, the WLC generated over $6.3 million in new support for the school in its inaugural year. This impressive sum, combined with additional cash donations, has resulted in a total of more than $10.9 million raised during the 2024-25 academic year, surpassing the previous high of $7.9 million.
The WLC offers multi-year leadership gift commitments, starting from $25,000 ($5,000 per year over five years). Interested individuals can designate their commitments to any area at Whitman that they choose, with levels of commitments extending up to $1 million or more. This flexibility allows donors to directly support the school's various priorities, such as student professional development, student financial support, experiential learning, and case competitions.
The collective support from alumni, parents, and friends, through initiatives like the WLC, has significantly enhanced the opportunities Whitman provides for students to develop, network, and position themselves for their careers. The funds raised are crucial for enabling program growth, faculty support, student opportunities, and infrastructure improvements as part of the Whitman School’s transformation plan.
The Whitman Leadership Circle has played a significant role in the school's fundraising success and transformation plan in 2024-25. The record fundraising total represents the largest annual amount ever raised by the Whitman School, reflecting both the effectiveness of the Leadership Circle’s engagement and the broader donor community's commitment.
The Whitman School Dean's Fund, which supports the greatest priorities and needs at the school, received nearly $3.2 million in cash giving and pledges in 2024-25, tripling the amount of funding from previous years. Of the 1,649 donors supporting Whitman this year, 1,266 of them made gifts less than $2,500.
The success and the success of the Whitman School's community is a priority, with philanthropic support from alumni and donors being more than just an investment in this success; it demonstrates the unity and commitment to a shared vision for where Whitman is headed nationally in offering a top business education.
The Whitman Leadership Circle website provides more information about opportunities to make an impact or become an essential part of the Whitman School's legacy. By visiting the site or completing the WLC interest form, interested individuals can learn about exclusive benefits, such as special recognition, exclusive communication, invitations to events, unique gifts, and opportunities to interact with students and faculty.
The Whitman School aims to become a top 25-ranked business school within five years, with the support from its community. The unprecedented financial support from the WLC and other donors has directly contributed to the school’s ongoing transformation efforts, enabling strategic investments and advancements aligned with their ambitious goals.
- The Whitman Leadership Circle (WLC), a philanthropic society, has been instrumental in mobilizing significant financial support for education-and-self-development initiatives at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, such as student professional development, student financial support, experiential learning, and case competitions.
- The Whitman Leadership Circle's efforts in fundraising have not only contributed to the school's ambitious future growth but also allowed donors to invest directly in the finance of the various priorities at the Whitman School, demonstrating a shared vision for its national top-tier business education.
