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Parent & Family Philanthropy

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Did you know that nearly 2,000 AU parents and family members make philanthropic gifts to the university in support of its activities each year?

Gifts from Eagle families are further investments in their student’s AU experience—and the future of AU. They support hundreds of programs across campus, including student organizations and clubs, internship opportunities, AU’s schools and colleges, and the work of our top scholar-teachers, enabling AU to create transformative educational opportunities for students, advance research with impact, and build stronger communities on campus and beyond.

While you may make a gift to any area of the university, we hope you will consider supporting one of the priorities listed below. Your gift will help empower our AU community of student and faculty changemakers to make positive changes in the world.

Parent and Family Philanthropy Priorities

The AU Parent Fund gives the university the greatest flexibility to respond to the unexpected and address the changing needs of our students, faculty, and staff. The Parent Fund ensures that our students continue to have access to cutting edge technology and the unique opportunities that AU is known for providing. Support from parents is essential to attracting and retaining the most inspiring faculty who educate and mentor our students and engage them in groundbreaking research.

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Unexpected financial stressors such as parental job loss, illness, or death, or other financial developments can disrupt even the most carefully laid plans. Each year, as many as 500 undergraduate students seek additional financial resources from the university after experiencing a change in their financial circumstances. AU’s Elevate Scholarship Initiative is a philanthropic effort to raise $25 million to support undergraduate students enrolled at AU. The university is matching this investment, doubling donors’ impact. The initiative will ensure more students can continue their AU experience, reach their full potential, and share their contributions as changemakers with the world.  

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Part of the Change Can't Wait Campaign, Student Thriving aims to expand mental health and wellness resources for students, reimagines student spaces to enhance learning experiences, sustain distinctive student leadership opportunities, and build improvements on campus. This includes the new Student Thriving Complex, which will be the heart of campus with three vital hubs for student life. 

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The Fund for Faculty, Research, and Innovation supports the work of top scholar-teachers who address urgent challenges and guide future changemakers. The fund increases the capacity of research centers, fostering collaboration and groundbreaking innovations.

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Get Involved

To join the Parent Leadership Council or learn more about ways to become involved as an AU parent, contact Keith McIver, Senior Director of Development, at kmciver@american.edu or Hunter Torres, Associate Director of Development at thunter@american.edu.

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Stay in Touch

Keep your contact information up to date and stay connected with AU Parents and Families.

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Connect

Connect with Eagle families in your area by joining a regional group on our official AU Parents and Family Facebook page.

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Volunteer

Parent and family volunteers help with admissions, mentor students, leverage connections to internships and employment, and serve as regional ambassadors, advocating and partnering with AU through the Parent Leadership Council. We invite you to learn more and get involved as a volunteer.

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Give

A gift of any size to the Parent Fund provides the greatest flexibility for AU to respond to the changing needs of our students, faculty, and staff. Please consider a gift to the Parent Fund or one of our priorities listed above.

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