Wheaton College celebrates record-breaking 2026 Giving Day, raising $1.19M
Community generosity fuels Wheaton College Faithfully Forward initiatives.
Wheaton College celebrated a historic milestone on April 22 as WheatonGives 2026 raised a record-breaking $1.19 million, advancing key priorities within the college’s Faithfully Forward campaign.
Highlights include:
• $1.19 million raised — highest in WheatonGives history
• Over 1,270 donors — consistent, faithful participation across the community
• Broad support from alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends
• Current student classes provided the highest participation
The majority of gifts supported the Wheaton Fund, the college’s primary source of flexible support.
Additional areas of impact include key priorities of the Faithfully Forward campaign: athletics facilities expansion; library renovations; need-based and academic scholarships; and endowed internship and graduate impact funds
The annual Wheaton Fund remains essential to the college’s mission — sustaining daily operations and ensuring a transformative, Christ-centered education remains both excellent and affordable for every student.
“The generosity we have seen is both inspiring and deeply humbling,” said Kirk Farney, vice president of Advancement, Vocation, and Alumni Engagement. “We are profoundly grateful — not only to our donors for their generous support, but ultimately to God for His continued provision. His faithfulness is evident in the way this community comes together year after year.”
Campus celebrations brought students together in Lower Beamer on the Wheaton campus throughout the day, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.
Student Azana Mack, Class of 2027, reflected on the experience, describing WheatonGives as “such a vibrant, energizing” day. She noted the joy of “watching students gather … coming together to support the cause,” and shared that she is “deeply thankful for our generous donors who continue to give so faithfully.”
Wheaton College is a Christian liberal arts college and graduate school located in Wheaton, Illinois. More than 40 undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, and 18 graduate degrees are offered by top-quality professors.