Donor support advances the NIRSA Foundation mission

With unanimous support from the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors, the leadership of NIRSA’s philanthropic arm of the association recently updated the name of its general fund. Donations to the NIRSA Foundation that aren’t restricted to a specified endowment or fund will be applied to the Mission Advancement Fund.

The Mission Advancement Fund—as with the General Fund before it—continues to address emerging needs such as the NIRSA COVID-19 relief membership fee waiver and upcoming equity, diversity, and inclusion work, while continuing to underwrite NIRSA strategic initiatives such as scholarly research and health and wellbeing efforts.

“The NIRSA Foundation has made considerable efforts over recent years in encouraging donations to the NIRSA Foundation General Fund,” says President of the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors Brent Harrison, Associate Director for Programs at the University of Oregon. “This fund has allowed the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors to respond to developing member needs and dispense resources much more quickly. In updating the name of this fund, we hope current and future donors make the connection between their gift and the advancement of the NIRSA Foundation mission,” he adds.

Why support the NIRSA Foundation?

“NIRSA is a refuge and a place to belong. I give to the NIRSA Foundation General Fund because I trust the leadership to make the decision to use my gift to best benefit members,” says Dr. Edgar Reed, RCRSP. Because of the generosity of donors to the NIRSA Foundation General Fund, we’ve been able to offer relief to scores of members facing hardship due to COVID-19.

“I support NIRSA because NIRSA supports me. When we say ‘NIRSA family,’ it is genuine. I have and continue to make some of the greatest friends in this organization. Most of my career has been centered around NIRSA and I have enjoyed encouraging future generations in their ascension through the profession. We are some amazing folks and giving back financially is just a great way to support beyond my own involvement,” says Stefani Plummer, a lifetime member of NIRSA from California Baptist University.