ONYX ANNEAU - FALL 2025

SMWC Sets Woods Fund Goal for 2025-2026 Fiscal Year

For the second year in a row, Saint Mary-of the-Woods College (SMWC) has set a Woods Fund goal of $3 million. The Woods Fund is the College’s unrestricted operational fund that is essential to ensuring SMWC’s ability to deliver its mission of educating students while challenging them to think critically. “We have been very blessed with strong support from our alumni and donors, and we look forward to continuing those efforts this year,” said Brennan Randolph, SMWC president. Following a record-breaking fundraising year for the 2024-25 fiscal year, Catherine Saunders ’98, vice president for advancement, explained how this will assist the institution and its students. “Another significant fundraising year will allow the College to focus on high needs that enhance the overall student experience at The Woods,” Saunders said. Saunders added that it all comes down to a shift in the advancement team’s mindset and how they approach their work. “We recognized that setting a $3 million goal was ambitious, but entirely within reach. Our alumni and friends have shown that they are committed to supporting this institution and advancing our mission. This record breaking fundraising year is proof. If we had not asked for it, I don’t know if we would have accomplished it,” Saunders said. “Once again, the team has enthusiastically set a goal of $3 million for the Woods Fund to continue supporting our long-term success as The Woods endures what we referred to as ‘growing pains’,” Saunders added. In total, 1,949 donors supported the Woods Fund in the 2024-25 fiscal year, several being first-time donors a more than 2% increase from the previous year. The year ended with raising $3,576,226 contributed to the Woods Fund. A significant boost to last year’s initiative was the tenth annual Woods Giving Day, known as WGD-X. Thanks to an early giving challenge made by members of the board of trustees, SMWC exceeded the goals of

$1 million and 1,200 donors for WGD-X. Saunders explained that it was a no-brainer decision to increase the goals for WGD-X. “After increasing the overall Woods Fund goal for the year, we knew we needed to do the same for Woods Giving Day. What an accomplishment it was for the College to have so much support leading up to and on the day,” she said. Additionally, Saunders explained that estate gifts also played a role in the year’s success. “With more than $1.1 million of our total unrestricted giving attributed to estate gifts, the impact of a planned gift truly has been felt at SMWC, and we appreciate being included in our alumni and friend’s estates.” With the end of 2025 approaching, typically a season of reflection, thankfulness and giving, the Advancement Team thanks the thousands of donors who supported the College last fiscal year and asks everyone to include The Woods in giving plans this year, July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026. The Woods Giving Day 2026 initiative begins on December 1, 2025, culminating on the day of giving, February 10, 2026. All gifts received between Dec 1 and Feb 10 will be included in Woods Giving Day totals, as well as this fiscal year’s giving. Saunders emphasized, “Every gift of every size makes a difference. We are excited about the growth of fundraising and the positive impact it has on a Woods student’s experience.” Supporters may contribute to the Woods Fund by: • Visiting giving.smwc.edu • Mailing a check to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Office of Advancement PO Box 70 Saint Mary of the Woods, IN 47876 • Calling 888-769-0013

“Every gift of every size makes a difference. We are excited about the growth of fundraising and the positive impact it has on a Woods student’s experience.” — Catherine Saunders ’98, vice president for advancement

13