Giving Opportunities

Annual Giving  | Emergency Scholarship Fund | David E. Fry Endowed Professorship |  Matching Gifts  |  Planned Giving  |  President's Society | Private Donor Scholarships  |  Recognition Park

Annual Giving | The Northwood Fund

Providing annual support to the Northwood Fund allows your gift to be used for critical projects not covered by student tuition alone. Dozens of programs are funded throughout the year with these gifts including academic scholarships, technology improvements, enhanced academic programming, faculty development, physical plant care and maintenance, and other general expenses.

As a donor to the annual Northwood Fund, you are investing in the everyday lives of students. This fund is the cornerstone of financial support to maximize Northwood’s ability to promote a free-enterprise and global education.

Many employers will match your gift, increasing the value of every dollar you contribute. Northwood honors donors who take the lead in supporting the university through an annual contribution:

Giving Levels

• Benefactor's Level: $25,000 and above
• Partner's Level: $10,000 - $24,999 
• Associate's Level: $5,000 - $9,999 
• Sponsor's Level: $2,500 - $4,999 
• Freedom Society: $1,000 - $2,499
• Liberty Society: $500 - $999
• Independence Society: $250 - $499
• Century Club: $100 - $249
• Friends: Up to $99

Contact Information

Please call 989.837.4356.

Emergency Fund Scholarship

With economic conditions eroding, students are now facing difficult decisions regarding how to continue their college education. The goal of the Emergency Scholarship Fund is to provide assistance to students who desire to continue their collegiate career. To accomplish this vital task, we are turning to our alumni and friends and asking for your support.

No gift is too large or small and your contribution will provide an immediate impact on the lives and futures of our students. Once gifts are distributed, we will make sure you know who you helped and how your gift helped a young person succeed. Help us make a real difference in the future leaders of tomorrow. Read more or give Online today!

Contact Information

Warren Mault, Senior Advancement Director
Phone: 1.866.282.4182

David E. Fry Endowed Professorship

Celebrate... Commemorate… Honor… There are many ways to express how Northwood University’s students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends feel about President & CEO Dr. David E. Fry’s retirement. To recognize and honor his years of commitment to Northwood University, we are seeking support to establish an endowment for the Dr. David E. Fry Professorship for Free Markets. Dr. Fry has a personal passion and love for education. In hisfirst position as an economics instructor at Northwood, his focus was on business, global economics, and free markets. As the President of Northwood, he focused on creating an environment where this passion could be passed on through generations of students. He is the Northwood Idea personified.

This initiative will focus on raising $4.5 million to endow three (3) professorship positions that will be centrally supported to travel throughout Northwood’s system to the three campuses, the Adult Degree Program, and DeVos Graduate School sites to deliver equally powerful messages to students in all locations. Learn more about the endowment today.

Contact Information

Please call 989.837.4356.

Matching Gifts

Thousands of companies and foundations match their employees’ gifts to non-profit organizations and higher education institutions. Corporate matching gifts provide an important source of funds to Northwood. In most cases, Northwood received a dollar-for-dollar match. Sometimes the match is double or triple the original donation. The amount of the match, payment schedule, employee eligibility requirements, and access to forms are at the sole discretion of each employer.

How Can I Make a Matching Gift?
Employers consider matching gifts a benefit to their employees; therefore, your human resource department or personnel office is most likely the source for matching gift information and forms. Each employer has different requirements, so you will need to complete your company’s specific matching gift form. Once the forms are completed, please call or e-mail the contact below or send the matching gift form to:
Northwood University | Advancement | 4000 Whiting Drive | Midland, MI 48640

Contact Information 

Please call 989.837.4356.

Planned Giving

The generosity of those who support Northwood ensures the tradition of a unique free-enterprise education. Additionally, Northwood strongly believes that both the donor and the receiver should benefit from the gift. Gifts received through the following vehicles will help you benefit through tax and financial arrangements, sometimes immediately, others may be a long term giving plan. Since these gifts require legal documents and tax expertise, we recommend you work with an attorney and/or tax advisor to receive the maximum benefits possible.

Planned giving includes:

Current will | Living trust | Bequests | Gift annuities | Deferred gift annuities | Charitable remainder annuity trust | Charitable lead trust | Charitable gift annuity | Closely-held stock | Life insurance | Retained life estate | Retirement plan assets | Real estate | Memorials & tributes | Matching gift

Contact Information

Please call 989.837.4356.

President’s Society

The most prestigious recognition level is the President’s Society at Northwood University. Gifts to the President’s Society support the university’s larger needs and ultimately benefit students. Membership is open to all alumni and friends who commit to supporting an innovative brand of free-enterprise education. Special and unique recognition is given to individuals who give at this highly generous level:

Levels of Giving
Benefactor's Level $25,000 and above
Partner's Level $10,000 - $24,999
Associate's Level $5,000 - $9,999
Sponsor's Level $2,500 - $4,999

We invite you to join this prestigious group of individuals and show your support of Northwood and our world’s leaders of tomorrow. Gifts of $2,500 and above are recognized with a ‘Golden Plate.’

The History of the Golden Plate

The Golden Plate symbolizes the University’s appreciation of donors whose assistance has helped its students and its programs. The Northwood University Banquet of the Golden Plate originated in Midland, Michigan in 1966 and is held around the country every year in cities where our supporters gather. The banquet honors donors, who as members of the President’s Society, have contributed $2,500 or more during the fiscal year. Members are invited to succeeding banquets to celebrate the University’s success and the generosity of our donors.

Contact Information 

Please call 989.837.4356.

Private Donor Scholarships

Throughout Northwood’s history, thousands of students who thought they would never attend college because of financial reasons have graduated. Because of scholarships, these graduates have become leaders and entrepreneurs, public servants, and corporate executives.

Private donor scholarships are among the most important investments you can make for future leaders. These scholarships are a vote of confidence in Northwood'ws educational philosophy and are proof of a commitment to assisting the financial needs of qualified and motivated students. Two types of scholarships exist:

Annual Scholarships
An annual scholarship is a commitment to fund a scholarship year after year. The minimum gift required to establish an annual scholarship is $500. The average annual scholarship is between $1,500 and $2,000. The donor has the opportunity to name these scholarships according to his or her wish.

Endowed Scholarships
To establish an endowed scholarship, a minimum of $5,000 is required. Larger gifts are suggested to generate a more substantial award. The corpus of an endowed scholarship may be added to at any time. For the past few years, we have awarded between five and six percent of the earnings. Thus, a gift of $5,000 generates a $250 - $300 annual scholarship. The donor may name the scholarship.

Contact Information

Please call 989.837.4356.

Recognition Park - Michigan Campus

Make Your Mark
Recognition Park provides a lasting gift from alumni and friends of Northwood University.

A personalized brick in the park is a great gift idea for holidays, birthdays, graduations, and more.

• Brick Text Designation
• 4" x 8" Standard Size: $100, Max. 14 spaces per 3 lines
• 8" x 8" Multiple Size: $500, Max. 14 spaces per 6 lines
• 12" x 12" Jumbo Size: $1,000, Max. 23 spaces per 11 lines
• Pillar Plaques: 84, 18" x 24" pillar plaques are available for purchase and provide significant recognition for the recipient. Pillar plaques are available at a cost of $2,500 with a maximum 23 spaces per 11 lines of text. The pillars border the walkway surrounding Northwood’s Recognition Park.

Contact Information
Northwood University
Warren Mault, Senior Advancement Director
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640
Phone: 989.837.4349