The University of Puget Sound celebrated a successful fiscal year 2024-25, announcing it raised $12.1 million in gifts and pledges from more than 3,700 donors. A key driver of this year's success was the Puget Sound Fund, which received an impressive $2.1 million.
The Puget Sound Fund provides vital and flexible support for the university’s most critical needs. It is a resource that touches every part of the university, from financial aid and faculty retention to capital improvements and co-curricular programs. The fund is highlighted each spring during Logger Day Challenge.
“Once again, our community has demonstrated their belief in our mission as a liberal arts institution, especially during these complex times,” said President Isiaah Crawford. “Their generosity provides us with the resources needed to expand access to higher education, recruit and retain outstanding faculty, and offer the transformative experiences that prepare our graduates to lead. We are grateful to every donor who invests in our students’ potential and our collective future.”
Beyond the Puget Sound Fund, this year was marked by several very generous gifts. David Snow and Dr. Paul McLain established the Barbara H. McLain Endowed Scholarship with an initial $100,000 pledge to the School of Physical Therapy — to be expanded by Snow with a major estate gift commitment, directly investing in the next generation of graduates and ensuring they have the support needed to excel in their field. A $1.05 million gift from Richard Laurance ’74 will endow the long-term sustainability of the Logger crew program, helping to build a championship culture through dedicated support for equipment, travel, and student-athlete resources.
In support of experiential learning, a requirement for all undergraduate Puget Sound students, Trustee Betsy Stone ’78, P’14, and Todd Stone P’14 provided $300,000 for the Puget Sound Internship Grant program. Experiential learning is a hands-on approach to education that allows students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings, such as through internships, independent research and community-based projects, and study abroad programs. This way of learning is highly beneficial as it helps students develop professional skills, build networks, and gain a deeper understanding of their field, ultimately preparing them for future careers. A separate $100,000 gift from Pat Leicher P’07 also supported an endowment for experiential learning.
Financial aid and scholarships also received strong support. Ned Cochran documented a $400,000 gift from his estate to establish a scholarship in memory of his spouse, Janet L. McClellan-Cochran '67, who was a lifelong teacher and passed away in February 2023. The Ned and Janet Cochran Endowed Scholarship will support students pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching. The university also received a $300,000 commitment from Linda ’75 and David Wilson and $100,000 from the McGraw Foundation for the Posse program, which recruits and trains high-achieving students who demonstrate leadership potential.
The Rodman Foundation also contributed a $100,000 commitment to the Julie C. Titcomb Family Endowed Scholarship, a gift that will help support future generations of students.
Several donors also chose to honor esteemed faculty members through their gifts. Carlisle Perkins ’82 established two funds with a $25,000 commitment for each: the Frances Cousens Study Abroad Endowment in honor of Professor Emeritus Francis Cousens and the Dr. Rosemary VanArsdel English Scholarship in honor of Professor Emerita of English Rosemary VanArsdel. Additionally, Julie Neff-Lippman ’68 and Professor Emerita of Art Helen “Illi” Nagy established the Theodore Taranovski Experiential Learning Endowment for Study Abroad with a $25,000 gift in honor of late Professor Emeritus of History Theodore Taranovski. All three of these endowments will help remove financial barriers for students and enhance their educational experiences.
Overall, the university received $4.04 million in future gifts promised through wills and estate plans, including the previously stated commitments, to secure its future. This included $489,000 in support of the unrestricted endowment, which is among the most valuable types of gifts due to the flexibility it provides to address the university's greatest needs. Puget Sound also received a generous gift for general endowment from the estate of Wayne Hoff ’79.
These contributions support the university's 10-year strategic plan, Leadership for a Changing World, and strengthen its position among the nation's leading liberal arts colleges.
