The spirit of giving at SFU

Each year, hundreds of dedicated SFU faculty and staff members go above and beyond in their commitment to the university by also giving philanthropically.

They shape the lives and learning experiences of students through their teaching, research and service, investing their best selves and their personal resources to ensure that students have access to world-class education, programming and supports to thrive.

In this past fiscal year alone, 420 faculty and staff donors contributed nearly $2.8 million toward vital initiatives across SFU, with more than 3,600 gifts toward critical areas of support like student health and counselling services, food security, and scholarship and bursaries.

On April 17, SFU hosted its inaugural Faculty and Staff Donor Recognition Event to celebrate the university’s internal donors and the inspiring difference they make. Held at The Study on Burnaby campus, guests were greeted with warm welcomes—and gratitude—by SFU President Joy Johnson and Erin Morantz, vice-president, advancement and alumni engagement (AAE). As Johnson said in her opening remarks: “SFU is more than a university—our community is a force for good.”

Sue Porter, who leads SFU’s Ceremonies and Events team, is one of many generous staff donors who are passionate about giving back. An SFU donor since 2013, Porter contributes monthly to support the Temstl'i7 ta Snichim Squamish Language Award and student well-being.

“Reconciliation is very important to me, and this feels like one small way I can move the needle for our amazing and talented Indigenous students,” says Porter.

For Eugene Fiume, Dean of Applied Sciences, supporting initiatives that help break down financial barriers for students is key to achieving equity in higher education—particularly in the area of STEM, where women are often underrepresented.

It is thanks to SFU’s dedicated faculty and staff donors that the university is able to propel cutting-edge research, make an impact in the communities we serve, and enhance the student experience—from financial aid and study abroad opportunities, to an enriched campus life and state-of-the-art facilities.

“What makes universities like SFU more welcoming and accessible to a diverse body of students is made possible because of private funding raised from ordinary people like me,” says Porter. “Our government needs to step up more, but so do we. If each of us takes responsibility for doing what we can to lift others up, we can create a country—and world—we want to be a part of.”