Calvin University receives a record $58 million in 2026
Calvin University received a record $58 million in gifts during its 2026 fiscal year, the largest fundraising total in the university's history. More than 11,000 alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff contributed gifts supporting student scholarships, academic programs, campus facilities, and the Calvin Annual Fund.
“Recent external analysis of the financial health of colleges and universities in Michigan places Calvin among the best positioned to navigate the challenges facing higher education today,” said President Greg Elzinga. “The generosity of our alumni and friends helps ensure Calvin remains strong for future generations.”
By the numbers:
- Total received in 2026: $58 million
- Donors: 11,000+
- Scholarship support raised: $10 million+
- Students receiving donor-funded scholarships: 1,326
- Annual Fund giving: $3 million
“Our supporters are invested in the mission and vision of Calvin University, and we are deeply grateful for their generosity,” said Ken Erffmeyer, vice president for advancement. “The impact of their support is both being felt today and will have ripple effects for years to come.”
Erffmeyer says his team works hard to honor the philanthropic spirit of donors by matching their passions with both the immediate and forthcoming needs of the school – everything from specific student and faculty scholarships to small and large projects.
Student-centered giving
In 2026, supporters continued to make student scholarships a top priority with more than $10 million being raised for Calvin’s Named Scholarship program.
Through these scholarships, supporters can customize the impact they have on Calvin students. Awards can be gifted to someone pursuing a particular major, entering a certain grade, or with a specific financial need. In 2025–2026, 1,326 students received support through donor-funded scholarships, and each year 20 to 30 new awards are added.
“We are grateful for the robust named scholarship program that our supporters have helped build over the past few decades,” said Jodi Cole Muyskens, senior director of development. “For some students, one or more of these scholarships bridge the financial gap they need to come to Calvin.”
Muyskens says not only does Calvin offer more of these types of scholarships than most other schools of its size, but the support extends beyond the financial gift.
“Many of the donors also provide encouragement to students throughout their time at Calvin with letters, emails, care packages, Sunday dinners, and mentoring,” said Muyskens.
Many gifts, all sizes, much impact
In addition to student scholarships, a few other areas that received major gifts in 2026 included the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship, aerospace engineering, outdoor athletic facilities, and the Ecosystem Preserve.
While designated gifts have an immense effect, Calvin’s fundraising team says the unrestricted dollars of the Calvin Annual Fund remain crucial to the university’s fundraising efforts. Whether it is $5 or $1,000, every gift matters.
In June, the weeklong Calvin Cares campaign, which raises money for the Annual Fund, raised a record $324,000 from 1,010 individuals. In total, $3 million was raised for the Annual Fund in 2026.
The Annual Fund fills the gap where tuition dollars stop, and these unrestricted dollars support the areas of greatest need on campus. From arts and athletics to financial aid, faculty research, and student life—this fund affects every student, every day.
These record-setting achievements are the latest evidence of the momentum happening at Calvin University, a university that’s celebrating its 150th anniversary year, ranked #1 for undergraduate teaching in its category by U.S. News & World Report and affirmed by S&P as an institution with a financially stable outlook.
About Calvin University
Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its nearly 3,700 students from 50 U.S. states, 60+ countries, and six Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a strong portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at www.calvin.edu.