CMU Foundation Raises $25.8M in Fiscal Year
Colorado Mesa University's foundation reported record fundraising and endowment growth during its centennial year.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Colorado Mesa University Foundation raised $25,833,824 during fiscal year 2026, with its endowment value growing to $83,703,985. Donors contributed over $25 million to scholarships, athletics, academic programs, student organizations, and other areas.
Why it matters
The Century Scholarship, originally founded in 2017 as the Mesa Scholarship Initiative, reached its $10 million fundraising goal during the year, supporting local students pursuing higher education in Grand Junction and Mesa County.
The foundation reported 5,602 donors and 18 new endowments in fiscal year 2026, with 100% of gifts going to designated purposes. Prior-year fundraising totals for comparison were not provided in the source data.
The players
Colorado Mesa University Foundation
The fundraising arm of Colorado Mesa University, which manages donations, endowments, and scholarship funds for the institution.
Candid
A nonprofit organization that provides data and transparency ratings for charities and philanthropic organizations across the United States.
The details
The foundation's fundraising came through events, planned giving, and new endowments tied to the university's centennial celebration, which drew nearly 20,000 attendees. Earlier in 2026 the foundation earned a Candid Gold Seal of Transparency.
Timeline
2017: Mesa Scholarship Initiative founded, later renamed the Century Scholarship.
Start of fiscal year 2025-2026: Century Scholarship stood at $7 million.
Fiscal year 2026: Nearly 20,000 attended centennial events and $25.8 million was raised.
Fiscal year 2027: Foundation sets a $27 million fundraising goal.
Market Landscape
The foundation's Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid places it among nonprofits that publicly demonstrate financial openness to donors. Higher education philanthropy increasingly depends on such verified disclosure to sustain large-scale campaigns.
Local residents can support students directly by contributing to the Century Scholarship or other foundation funds. The $27 million fiscal year 2027 goal signals continued opportunities for donors to shape scholarship and program funding.
The takeaway
Donations to the Century Scholarship help keep local students in Mesa County pursuing higher education, a goal the foundation reached this year. Those interested in supporting similar efforts can review the foundation's giving options.
Further reading
Explore more local giving stories in Philanthropy coverage.
More information
Learn about ways to give to CMU Foundation to support students and programs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
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