Donor Impact Report shows benefit of giving
By Kelvin Childs
The Donor Impact Report is a specific record of how your generosity benefits Howard University and our wonderful students.
Donations to Howard undergird important research that puts it ever closer to the goal of again being classified an R1 facility. Moreover, gifts to the array of Impact Howard Funds or to scholarships or programs such as GRACE Grants touch students who need a boost to fully participate in campus life or to get to graduation day without fear of falling short financially.
Kenya Mills (B.A., ’22), a political science major, said, “For students like me who face socioeconomic disadvantages, it is an honor to have donors that not only make the scholarship possible but also make it possible to reach the finish line. On that note, I would like to express my appreciation for being selected as the recipient.
“Now, I attend UDC David A. Clarke School of Law with the aspiration of becoming a lawyer. I want to use the knowledge I have garnered in both fields to transform the idea of possibilities and do what I can to bring about effective changes in power,” Mills said.
Another example is Mariah Cooley (B.A., ’23), a political science major, who said, “I would like to extend my greatest gratitude to the donors. This scholarship allowed me to graduate magna cum laude and speak at my college’s commencement ceremony. Words cannot describe how grateful my family and I are for this financial assistance; by investing in me you are investing in a Black woman who aims to change this world politically.”
After graduating, Cooley worked for Community Justice Action Fund, a national gun violence prevention organization that addresses the root causes of gun violence in Black and brown communities. She currently is a program manager at the University of Chicago Crime Lab – Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA). She also volunteered for the Harris/Walz 2024 presidential campaign and intends to run for public office herself in the future. Another student who benefited from Robert Hill, a broadcast journalism major in the Class of 2026. He received a scholarship under the Sands Scholars Program, established by Bob P. and Sally G. Sands for Howard students in 2017. The cohort-based, student-centered program provides advising, support and enrichment for a community of scholars focused on student success, graduation and career development.
“This scholarship makes me really excited because it reminds me that you guys see all of my potential and are encouraging me to achieve success,” Hill said. He plans to go on to graduate school and intern at a major news outlet. “Graduate school will provide me with various leadership programs that will enhance my skills in writing, researching, reporting and ethics to become a successful talk show host,” he said.
Hill continued, “This is my way of making an impact in my field by being able to create a production space that will allow many content creators such as musicians, comedians, journalists, actors and more to perfect their craft in a positive setting.”
By the numbers, in 2022–2023 (the most recent year for which figures are available), Howard raised $62.5 million. This comes from about 12,500 donors —7,800 alumni donors, 3,900 friend donors, 400 corporate donors, and 300 foundation/organizational donors. Of that group, 3,300 were new donors and 7,800 were alumni donors. Also, 26,000 of the gifts were under $1,000, showing that a gift of any amount can make a heartfelt difference to a student.