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Cultivate Faculty and Academic Excellence

Invest in the faculty mentors, academic programs, and professional development that turn knowledge into wisdom and help students discover what they are capable of becoming.

Invest in the People Who Inspire What’s Next

At Illinois Wesleyan, exceptional teaching is deeply personal. Faculty members do more than share knowledge. They challenge students to think differently, encourage them to explore across disciplines, invite them into research and creative work, and help them discover where their interests and abilities can lead.

Through this priority, Illinois Wesleyan will invest in the people at the heart of that experience. Supporting outstanding faculty and their continued growth will strengthen the close mentorship, intellectual curiosity, and academic excellence that distinguish an Illinois Wesleyan education and ensure those qualities remain strong for generations to come.

An Illinois Wesleyan professor working through a problem at the whiteboard with students

What your gift funds

Endowed Chairs and Professorships

Named, permanent positions that let IWU compete for the field's best teacher-scholars and hold them for a career.$30MM goal

Faculty Development Funds

Research support, sabbatical funding, and conference travel that keep scholarship current and classrooms sharp.$20MM goal

Why donors give

“I am forever grateful for the many incredible IWU faculty, staff, and mentors that helped create and shape the opportunities and experiences I had both as student and now in my professional career.”
Corey ’97 and Pam SchielerHeritage Fellows and donors since 1997

Other priorities

Accelerate Student Success, Experiential Learning, and EntrepreneurshipEnhance Classroom and Campus Community