DURANGO, Colo. — Fort Lewis College marked its most successful Giving Tuesday yet, raising $990,307 from 552 donors, including 180 first-time supporters. Now in its seventh year, the campaign once again surpassed previous fundraising totals, outpacing last year’s record of $722,000. 

President Heather Shotton said the milestone reflects a growing confidence in FLC’s mission.

“This is a great win for the college and a reminder that people are deeply committed to the work we are doing at FLC,” Shotton said, adding that the FLC Foundation Board of Directors played a central role in the effort, reaching nearly 100% participation through challenge gifts, donor outreach, and contributions across multiple funds.

“I’m grateful to our college leaders, alumni, employees, and friends who continue to show up for our students.”

Donor support centered on strengthening the student experience, with gifts benefiting scholarships, undergraduate research, internships, basic needs programs, athletics, alumni engagement, and reconciliation initiatives.

Interim Vice President for Advancement Lauren Berutich credited the campaign’s success to collective effort.

“This achievement reflects the power of our entire community and the dedication of our staff, faculty, leadership, and partners who make this work possible.” Berutich said. “These funds will advance our mission across every area of campus and directly support our strategic priorities and student success.”

Community-led challenges drove momentum

This year, 13 faculty and staff, 54 alumni, three local businesses and two foundations led challenge gifts ranging from $1,000 to $250,000.

“These challenge gifts are the anchors that inspire donor engagement,” said Katie Nester, director of Outreach and Donor Relations. “They create compelling opportunities to give and demonstrate the power of collective action.”

The most ambitious challenge—a $250,000 planned gift to the Pay It Forward Scholarship Endowment from an anonymous alum—was unlocked at 11:54 p.m. when FLC reached 550 donors, becoming the largest single gift of the day.

Athletics

Athletics saw particular momentum, setting another participation record with 286 donors—up from 172 in 2024—an achievement bolstered by a $100,000 challenge from Ska Brewing Co., which unlocked when 200 donors supported any Athletics initiative. Coaches, student-athletes, and staff once again played an essential role by mobilizing their networks and elevating Skyhawk spirit across campus.

Alumni led the way

Alumni-led participation challenges helped drive donor count goals throughout the day.

  • 50 alumni donors unlocked a $5,000 gift from Matthew Ferris (’96) to the Ferris Chemistry Undergraduate Research Support Fund.
  • 100 alumni donors activated an anonymous $8,000 gift to the Expressive Art & Music Fund.
  • 150 alumni donors unlocked a $10,000 gift from FLC Foundation Director Terry Bacon to the Football Impact Fund.

This year’s Giving Tuesday efforts also aligned with FLC’s Strategic Plan and our key five directions:

Academic Excellence received a strong boost from donors responding to challenges designed to support undergraduate research, faculty innovation, and student travel.

  • Each school’s dean—Steve Fenster (School of Arts and Sciences), Liz Cartier (Katz School of Business), and offered $1,000 challenges supporting their respective Impact Funds. These flexible funds address the schools’ highest priorities, from scholarships to faculty initiatives.
  • A $5,000 Nursing Collaborative Challenge, led by Berutich and FLC Foundation Board Chair and Bank of Colorado Market President Ryan Brungardt, supported the growing Nursing program and aligned directly with workforce needs across the region.

Basic Needs & Student Support: Giving Tuesday donors demonstrated strong support for student well-being, including housing and food security.

  • Gifts to Student Well-Being were doubled through Giving Tuesday and then doubled again through a matching challenge from the Saul Zaentz Foundation—quadrupling their impact.
  • A $3,000 Leadership Challenge Match for the Grub Hub Food Security Fund—led by Interim VP for Diversity Affairs Kendra Gallegos-Reichle, and deans Steve Fenster, School of Arts and Sciences, Chiara Cannella, interim dean, School of Education, and Liz Cartier, Interim Dean, Katz Business School—helped accelerate giving toward essential needs.

Community Connections: The Ballantine Family led a $12,000 challenge supporting the Center of Southwest Studies Impact Fund. The challenge unlocked when 50 donors gave to CSWS initiatives, helping advance the Center’s mapping project and student-engaged research.

 

Reconciliation: A $10,000 participation challenge from Mark Taylor supported the Indigenous Adventure Fund, which strengthens cultural connection and leadership development. The challenge unlocked when 100 donors contributed to any FLC initiative.

 

Student-Ready: Scholarships remained a cornerstone of donor interest. Alongside the record-setting $250,000 planned gift, faculty and staff rallied around memorial-funded initiatives, including the Paul Booth Artistic Legacy Memorial Scholarship and the Jenna Gilbert Memorial Scholarship.