From the Office of University Advancement

OVER THE PAST YEAR, our Concordia St. Paul alumni, donors and friends have shown overwhelming support for the mission and vision of this wonderful university. This support helps our learners afford, access, and achieve life-changing educational opportunities.

President Brian L. Friedrich, BA ‘79 reiterated his gratitude for the support CSP has received during these challenging times. “Amazing things are happening in this place where ‘Christ is honored, and all are welcome,’” he exclaimed. “I continue to be inspired and humbled by the tremendous support our students receive from our alumni and friends. Laurie and I love giving back to our alma mater that has given us so much, and we are grateful for the hundreds of donors who have joined us in blessing CSP students.”

The support of our generous donors continues to be a driving force behind sustained enrollment growth. As the second-largest private university in Minnesota, we continue to serve more and more students, which means the need for additional financial resources also grows. Currently, 86% of students receive financial aid from CSP.

Concordia students repeatedly show gratitude for the support they receive, and their understanding of the financial implications of attending college make for a strong culture of philanthropy around campus. This culture follows students as they graduate and become alumni, with 40% of donors during the COVID-19 pandemic being CSP alumni.

Rhonda (Behm) Palmersheim, BA ’88, Associate Vice President for Alumni & Constituent Relations, believes that alumni giving will always be an important piece of Concordia’s story. “Concordia St. Paul is blessed by the support it receives from its alumni,” she said. “Your support strengthens the value of a CSP degree, honors the legacy of students spanning the last 128 years, and proclaims your commitment to our current students. Your support will make a difference today and in the years to come.”

During a year that brought challenges to our students and the world at large, we are inspired by the commitment to our beloved university from alumni, donors, and friends. Thank you to those that have supported Concordia with their time, talent, and treasure. We look forward to building upon our current momentum as we enter our new fiscal year in July.

Derrick Artero, ’21 Nursing, Portland

Photo courtesy of Derrick Artero

The scholarships that I have received from these generous donors have allowed me to pay my tuition in full and guarantee completion of my bachelor’s degree. Thank you so much for investing in me, and I look forward to finishing my education here at Concordia St. Paul.

Emily Woodhall, BS ’21 Mathematics, St. Paul

Photo courtesy of Emily Woodhall

CSP has blessed me with many opportunities and many faculty and staff members who have helped me find the right path. Thank you again for your generosity! It has allowed me to be the first female in my family to attend a four-year university. Without you, I would not have been able to flourish at CSP and would have never truly enjoyed the wonderful environment and people.

PHILANTHROPY AMIDST PANDEMIC

INCLUDES GIFTS GIVEN BETWEEN MARCH 2020-MAY 2021

NUMBER OF DONORS: 2,163

% OF ALUMNI DONORS: 40%

NUMBER OF NEW SCHOLARSHIPS: 22

NUMBER OF NEW DONORS: 619

DONOR-FUNDED STUDENT AID: $846,600

GIVE NOW TO IMPACT TODAY’S STUDENTS

ANNUAL SUPPORT TO THE OPPORTUNITY FUND enables CSP to address the areas of greatest need for our students. Donor support ensures that a Concordia education remains affordable, accessible and achievable while also providing a meaningful Christ-centered educational experience that prepares students for their future vocations. Most often, these funds are distributed as represented below:

45% SCHOLARSHIPS

20% CAPITAL PROJECTS

10% CSP MINISTRY

10% DIVERSITY PROGRAMMING

10% LEADERSHIP & CAREER DEVELOPMENT

5% CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION

DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT!

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF THE PAST YEAR, CSP students, faculty and staff have worked hard to persevere and make the most of this academic year. Financial support from the CSP community has played a huge role in our ability to react and adjust to the changing environment and has allowed us to support our students in their educational journey.

To continue the momentum and end this fiscal year strong, a loyal supporter of CSP has offered to match all gifts to the Opportunity Fund dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 through June 30. Your doubled gift will help us plan ahead to ensure students in the classroom and online have an incredible 2021-22 academic year.

TO DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT TODAY, VISIT: ONE.CSP.EDU/GIFTMATCH

IMPACT GENERATIONS TO COME THROUGH YOUR PLANNED GIFT

CONCORDIA ALUMNUS HONORS CLASSMATE WITH LEGACY GIFT

SOMETIMES, THE BEST WAY TO MAKE AN IMPACT AT CSP is through the gifts you leave behind. Bill Irwin, BA 73, has supported CSP students through annual contributions and recently decided to leave his legacy through a planned estate gift.

During Bill’s first two years at Concordia, he lived off campus and wasn’t connected to university life. He was six years older than his classmates; he served in Vietnam, worked full time, got married and had a daughter, and completed freshman year elsewhere before transferring to Concordia in 1970.

Before Bill’s senior year, his wife asked for a divorce. He was devastated and considered dropping out. But Herb Treichel, then Concordia’s dean of men, convinced him to stay and helped him get a job as a resident assistant.

“I was depressed and the guys in the dorm became my friends and support system,” Bill says. “My grades slipped, but the faculty was very considerate. I started that year not strongly connected to Concordia, but by the end, I was deeply connected.”

At his five-year reunion, Bill learned some disturbing news. Just weeks earlier, classmate David Aasved had graduated from Concordia

Seminary and was driving to California for his ordination when he was brutally murdered.

To honor the memory of their friend and classmate, Bill and his peers decided to start the David Aasved Scholarship Endowment to benefit Concordia students pursuing full-time church work. As an endowment, the fund is invested, and a set percentage of the proceeds each year are used for the scholarships.

Since it was established, Bill has contributed annually to the endowment. But he wanted to make a larger impact, so he adjusted his will to also provide a gift to the endowment when he passes away.

The endowment currently has a balance of $75,000, which sets it up to support students for many years to come. The David Aasved Scholarship Endowment is an enormous blessing to Concordia St. Paul, and will leave a lasting legacy in the lives of many, both the church workers it supports and the lives those workers will touch in their ministries.

“I want to help Concordia prepare students for a career in the church,” Bill says. “Supporting a scholarship in David’s memory is one way of doing that.”

HONOR WHAT MATTERS TO YOU

Contributing to an endowment through your estate is a heartfelt way to honor someone important to you. Contact Matt Steiner at (651) 641-8243 or steiner@csp.edu for more details, or visit csp.planmygift.org.