Families, we shared this message with our students, faculty and staff earlier. We share it with you now for your reference. 

Dear AU Community,

2023 was a year of great momentum for AU’s Change Can’t Wait campaign. Today, I’m thrilled to announce that the American University community has raised more than $460 million toward Change Can’t Wait initiatives.

We are in an extraordinary moment in AU’s history—one in which we can all play a part in reaching our $500 million goal this year.

We are continually inspired by the response to Change Can’t Wait’s call to action. Participation in the campaign reflects every facet of our AU community, representing gifts from:

• More than 22,500 alumni in all 50 states and 79 countries
• Over 8,300 current and former staff and faculty, including emeriti faculty
• Approximately 1,400 students

Our community’s support of the Change Can’t Wait campaign is making an impact on our university in real time. To date, over 150 scholarships have been created or expanded, providing critical support to more students. Four centers and institutes were established and/or endowed, and eight endowed faculty positions were created. Unrestricted annual giving has more than doubled, while giving to funds that advance inclusive excellence has increased 17-fold. Additionally, $34 million has been raised for strategic capital projects, including the new Student Thriving Complex set to break ground in March.

In 2023, the AU community honored the trailblazing work of our expert faculty, made transformative enhancements in the AU student experience, and gathered Eagles together in cities across the United States to celebrate our impact. I invite you to revisit some of these 2023 highlights in the Moments of Change campaign year-in-review.

Changemaking is a collective act, made possible by the dedication, talents, and spirit of AU community members. Just as the achievements of this past year are community-won, so, too, is the celebration—and we look forward to celebrating the full impact of Change Can’t Wait with you in 2024.

Warmly,

Courtney L. Surls
Vice President of University Advancement