Why donations matter—and why we need them

With the conclusion of yet another memorable convocation season at SFU, it’s hard not to think of the impactful role that our generous donors play in ensuring students can cross the stage with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to make a positive change in our communities.

A few years ago, I wrote about the importance of philanthropy in higher education and how donors help us to increase student access to education and essential resources, provide world-class programming and facilities, and advance research and teaching excellence—university priorities that government funding can’t always support.

When you give to a cause at SFU, every dollar we receive goes toward your chosen fund and is restricted for that specific purpose. No matter where you direct your support or how much you choose to give, it empowers us to respond to emerging student and societal needs with confidence and urgency.

This past fiscal year, donor support allowed us to:

• distribute more than 3,100 scholarships, awards and bursaries;
• provide more than $8.8M in student support; and
• raise over $18,000 during our year-end campaign in 2024 for food security programs designed to deliver affordable and nutritious meals to the SFU community.

It’s truly comforting to know that in difficult times like this, there are people who care and are doing what they can to uplift our students.

Philanthropic support is not a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity for any higher education institution that wants to offer more than just the bare minimum. Without it, we can’t provide students with inclusive mental health and counselling, mentorship and career development, or innovations in teaching and learning, much less advance sustainability efforts and other important initiatives that make a transformative difference for B.C., Canada and the world.

Universities are vital engines of progress, equipping future leaders and changemakers with the skills they need to navigate our complex world. Investing in it keeps that promise alive—for today’s students and for generations to come.