Donor Relations

WCU ensures a comprehensive and quality program of both stewardship initiatives as well as various events to cultivate, engage and recognize all of our donors and prospective donors for their tremendous support of this great university, our students and our faculty and staff. Our Advancement staff is responsible for both sustaining and nurturing WCU's lifelong relationship with our donors while providing accurate and timely information specific to the investment, use, and impact of donor gifts.

Donor-focused stewardship is accomplished through timely and appropriate gift acknowledgement, fund reporting, donor recognition, donor appreciation activities and events, and stewardship activities. Through meaningful and consistent contacts with donors and prospective constituencies, the office aids fundraising efforts in building lifelong relationships with donors and instills in them the trust that their gifts and investments are supporting the success of the university.

As a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Western Carolina University proudly supports the Donor Bill of Rights which was adopted in 1993.

10 Rights for All Donors

Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the public and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

1. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
3. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
6. To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.

Awarding Scholarships

Each year the university awards named scholarships, made possible through the generosity of hundreds of individuals and organizations. Awards are made by WCU’s Financial Aid Office or academic departments in accordance with the special criteria of each scholarship. Read more.