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The Importance of the Fund for McDaniel

The Fund for McDaniel is a critical fundraising priority. Through the Fund for McDaniel, we ensure that your gift goes right where it’s needed most — right when it’s needed most — to guarantee that current students experience the high-quality and impactful education we're known for. Your Annual Fund gift supports the entirety of the McDaniel experience, contributing to the areas of the College that directly affect day-to-day life for our students on campus.

Students with professor in Kinesiology lab.

The Impact of the Annual Fund

Making a Difference

Annual fund dollars are spent in a way that mirrors how the college's dollars are allocated. And no matter what fresh challenges each school year brings, the following four areas will always require the bulk of the college's resources:

We're proud of the investment we make in the academic experience that is the heart of McDaniel College.The largest percentage of the college's funds each fiscal year goes towards things like classroom equipment and resources, seminars, guest lecturers, faculty support, and the library — the things that support McDaniel's academic experience and ensure it remains among the best in our peer group.

McDaniel College's commitment to need-based financial aid for students that provides support regardless of socio-economic background is only possible because of your gifts. Many of the students on our campus couldn't be here if it weren't for the financial help that the college provides. Funding from McDaniel augments federal and state scholarships, grants, and loans to create realistic pathways to college graduation for all students.

At McDaniel College, we know that preparation for the world beyond the college is an essential part of the experience. Student organizations, athletics, counseling, advising, tutoring, the Merritt fitness center — life at McDaniel is more than classroom learning. The college is committed to providing students with a high-quality, comprehensive residential experience, and that includes supporting things like the Student Governance Council, multicultural programming, and on-campus wellness services.

Many of our current and prospective students remark on the beauty of campus and the quality of the college's infrastructure. As the college grows, enhancements to our buildings and grounds and technical resources like wi-fi become necessary. Support from the Fund for McDaniel gives us the flexibility to meet these changing needs.

Students walking around downtown Westminster during McDaniel Local.

A Record Class More Students, More Need Supporting Our Students

The Fall 2019 freshmen class was the largest in the college's history. With this increase in students, we also develop increased needs that include financial support and infrastructure development. The Fund for McDaniel is a critical part of ensuring we have the financial flexibility to meet the college's needs in real-time. Due to the close-knit campus community, our faculty and staff are able to suggest improvements that improve the quality of the student experience. With the help of the Fund for McDaniel, we are able to respond. 

Recent News for Alumni

  • Four Maryland Teachers of the Year have ties to McDaniel

    Update as of 09.11.23: Anne Arundel County Teacher of the Year Mary Kay Connerton has been named a finalist for the 2023-24 Maryland Teacher of the Year. Originally posted 07.25.23: Graduate alumni Lauren Stevens M.S. ’09, who graduated with a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction; Mary Kay Connerton, who earned an Administrator 1 Certificate; and Alisha Swann M.S. ’20, who graduated with a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, along with current Graduate student Laura Moore, who is currently enrolled in the Administrator I Certificate program are Maryland Teachers of the Year for 2023-2024. They are all eligible to be chosen as the 2023 Maryland Teacher of the Year.
  • Nora Roberts Faculty Award goes to adjunct lecturer Tracy Imm '87 for Social Impact Storytelling course

    Tracy Imm is an adjunct lecturer in the Communication and Cinema and Economics and Business Administration departments and a 1987 alum of the college. She received the college’s Nora Roberts Faculty Award, which provides financial support for a faculty member to establish or build upon a social justice, service learning, or community engagement project.
  • McDaniel College Board of Trustees elects three new members

    McDaniel College has named three new members to its board of trustees. Keith Lawson '79 is the deputy general counsel for tax law at the Investment Company Institute (ICI), Dr. Millard Mazer '83 is a periodontist, and Deborah Seidel '84 is a retired vice president of T. Rowe Price.