Projects and Priorities

Ongoing Priorities

The Luther Fund

Continued support and growth of the Luther Fund are critical for the college’s success. The Luther Fund’s unrestricted gifts directly support just about everything students need: scholarships, financial aid, music tours, student groups, intramural sports, student/faculty research, well-kept residence halls, well-equipped classrooms, a beautiful campus, and so much more! Support for the Luther Fund goes to work immediately and directly impacts the college’s annual operating budget, making it vital to life and learning at Luther College.

Norse Athletic Association

The NAA was formed in 2007 to provide support for over 500 Luther College student-athletes. Luther competes in nine women’s and ten men’s intercollegiate athletic programs, and is a member of the American Rivers Conference. As the costs of providing competitive opportunities for our student athletes continue to rise, we are becoming increasingly reliant on private contributions to enable us to provide our student athletes with a program that encourages both academic and athletic success.

Planned Gift Support

Through the years, planned gifts have continued to support the endowment and other priority needs of the college, including student scholarship support, collaborative student/faculty research funds, and other endowed funds supporting mission-based experiences. Now, more than ever, the college seeks support from alumni and friends to ensure endowment growth for future generations of Luther students.

Student Scholarship Support

Student scholarship support remains one of the most important, and ever-present, institutional needs. Making a Luther education affordable is essential for recruiting students, and scholarship assistance is often the deciding factor. Nearly 100 percent of our students receive financial aid, and 75 percent work on campus and in our community to meet their college costs. In 2022–23, Luther provided nearly $55 million in student aid from college funds, with 13 percent of that total aid being donor-funded through endowed and annual scholarships.

Other Endowment Support

Endowment is the foundation on which Luther College sustains academic excellence for future generations of students, faculty, and staff. Luther’s endowment has grown from $56 million in 2000 to $204.5 million in 2024. Endowed funds support a multitude of purposes including scholarships for students, faculty support, teaching and learning resources, library materials, program enrichment, and student/faculty research projects.