The Campaign for NOLS Scholarships Awarded
from gifts and endowment proceeds, totaling $6,320,000
New Endowed Scholarships
that fund student tuition in perpetuity
(September 2016 - December 2020) Immediate Support Sustainability Campus Improvements
Cabins at the Wyss Campus
The campaign funded eight cabins for student lodging. This comfortable, energy-efficient, and attractive housing allows us to teach 32 more wilderness medicine students each year.
Gifts
Donors
States
(and D.C., too!)
Countries
EXPOSE
Just over five years ago, NOLS mapped out a bold objective: to raise $30 million by Dec. 31, 2020. Thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors in that half decade, including Skander Spies, whose story is below, we reached that goal. In fact, we exceeded the goal, reaching $31 million within the designated timeline, and in spite of the monumental financial challenges of 2020. Skander explains why lessons learned at NOLS means so much to him that he has donated to NOLS for a decade.
By Skander Spies NOLS Semester in Alaska Grad
D
Why I Began Donating to NOLS Immediately After My Course
Statistics illustrate the success of Step Forward: The Campaign for NOLS, above, while alumni Skander Spies’ story explains his commitment to philanthropic gifts to the school. Illustration by Kacie DeKleine, photo by Will Covey
14 | THE LEADER
espite solid parenting and a generous community, I grew up with a fierce scarcity mindset. When I got to my NOLS semester in 2007, that meant I was always quick to ration food, negotiate the best side of the tent, or find a way to keep my puffy jacket dry. Living outside though, there is plenty of adversity, and only a little certainty. It started raining the third day of my course and my instructor said, “this is the regular weather here.” My instructors and teammates modeled doing selfless work and “eating your best food first.” Eventually, I learned that
“La Se
A weath gatheri
