SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION, INC.
ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT JULY 1, 2025—JUNE 30, 2026
Dear Viking community, One of the greatest strengths of unrestricted philanthropy is its flexibility. Your generosity allows Salem State University to respond where the need is greatest, invest in emerging opportunities and support initiatives that have an immediate and lasting impact on our students and campus community. This year, your unrestricted support made a difference in countless ways. As requests for emergency assistance increased at the start of the academic year, we were able to strengthen the Student Emergency Fund, providing critical financial support to students facing unexpected hardships that might otherwise have impacted their education. Your generosity also expanded the capacity of our campus Food Pantry, ensuring students experiencing food insecurity had access to nutritious food instead of worrying about their next meal.
$11,714,377 Total Funds Raised
including $1,043,973 in unrestricted support
Beyond meeting urgent needs, flexible philanthropy helped enrich the student experience through global learning opportunities and expanded access to affordable educational resources, innovative academic equipment, veteran student recognition, and new initiatives that strengthen student success and foster a vibrant campus community. Because you provided unrestricted support, Salem State had the ability to act quickly and strategically, helping students thrive, addressing today’s challenges and investing in tomorrow’s opportunities. With gratitude,
Mandy Ray
Vice President, Advancement Executive Director, Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc.
2,366 DONORS 649 UNRESTRICTED DONORS
746
FirstTime Donors
$100
Members of the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. at the annual board meeting in June 2026.
Most Common Gift Amount
Most Common Areas of Support Annual Fund Unrestricted The power of unrestricted funding is in its ability to Meet the Moment® by providing critical support where it is needed most and creating new opportunities for student success. Your generosity fueled initiatives that strengthened access, belonging and learning across Salem State. Unrestricted funding made it possible for graduating veteran students to receive commencement stoles, recognizing their military service, resilience and academic achievements as they transition to the next stage of their lives and careers.
General Scholarships Scholarships are more than financial support, they are an investment in student potential. By reducing financial barriers, donor-funded scholarships help students stay focused on their education, pursue their goals and achieve success at Salem State and beyond. “As a first-generation college student pursuing a career in education, this scholarship has helped me stay committed to becoming a teacher who supports multilingual learners and creates inclusive, equitable classrooms. It has given me the freedom to take on internships, work with diverse school communities like Lynn English and Danvers High School and grow into the educator I aspire to be.” – Erik Sobrinho ’26, ’27G, Presidential Scholarship recipient
$889,823 was awarded to 229 scholarship recipients during academic year 2025-2026.
SSU BOLD SSU BOLD represents Salem State’s commitment to creating a more sustainable, student-centered campus for generations to come. Through this transformative investment, we are building spaces and experiences that inspire learning, connection and success. Celebrating a milestone beam signing in March 2026, President John D. Keenan shared, “We have been working on this project for at least 25 years. The wait was worth it since it is even better than we imagined.”
Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies The Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (CHGS) inspires critical thinking, fosters meaningful dialogue and deepens understanding of the past to help students become informed, compassionate and engaged citizens. CHGS sponsored a faculty-led study and travel course in April 2026 led by Chris Mauriello, PhD and Stephenie Young, PhD entitled “From Mussolini to the Mafia: Authoritarianism in Italian History and Culture,” where cities like Rome, Sorrento, Naples, and Palermo served as backdrops to a deep dive into facism and post-World War II criminality and its consequences in southern Italy.
Viking Warrior Day 2026 TOTAL RAISED $184,030 PARTICIPATION Donors: 715 Gifts: 777 Classes Represented: 62 Alumni: 37% Friends: 31% Faculty/Staff: 14% Parents: 9% Students: 9% Horace Mann Community Member: >1%
TOP CAMPUS FUNDS IMPACTED Unrestricted Support SSU BOLD Thomas M. Feeley ’68 Fund
FUN FACTS Throughout our 1,854 minutes of giving, VWD gifts were made on April 29.
191 GIFTS ON APRIL 28
EAGER VIKINGS
27
gifts arrived on April 27, before the official launch of VWD
PEAK GIVING HOUR
57
Men’s Soccer Accounting
gifts received between 10–11 am
20
Viking Pride in Action Salem State’s ninth annual Viking Warrior Day (VWD) brought the Viking community together in a powerful display of pride and generosity. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends rallied to support the university, while students celebrated on campus during Viking Warrior Field Day with games, entertainment and food trucks. Together, the community generated 769 gifts and $184,030 in support before midnight on April 29, demonstrating the broad reach and enthusiasm behind this annual tradition. Among the day’s standout efforts, the men’s soccer team finished among the top five fundraising groups. After setting an initial goal of $10,000, the team surpassed expectations by raising an impressive $12,000 in support of their program. VWD 2026 also highlighted the growing engagement of Salem State’s newest graduates. The top five self-identified giving classes all came from the 2020s, reflecting strong participation among recent alumni. Current students contributed 64 gifts, demonstrating a growing culture of philanthropy across campus. The day was further energized by the generosity of match and challenge donors, whose contributions encouraged participation and helped maximize the impact of gifts throughout the community. Reflecting on another successful day of giving, the impact of VWD highlights a vibrant and committed network of Vikings dedicated to supporting student success and the growth of Salem State. Learn more at givingday.salemstate.edu.
73%
of all
514 GIFTS ON APRIL 29
3
Giving Waves on April 29 10 am / 2 pm / 7 pm
FARTHEST GIFT
China
Matches and Challenges that Inspired Giving
“It was a privilege to contribute to Viking Warrior Day this year as a small way to pay back all that Salem State has given me. I contribute to help ensure that this amazing university can continue to offer opportunities for growth and success to future students.” – Brian McNamara ’77
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 130 Salem, MA Advancement 352 Lafayette Street Salem, Massachusetts 01970-5353
ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT JULY 1, 2025—JUNE 30, 2026 SALEMSTATE.EDU/MOMENT GIVE@SALEMSTATE.EDU
THANK YOU Every gift is an investment in our students, our mission and the future of Salem State. Because of you, students found support during times of unexpected hardship, accessed life-changing educational opportunities and gained the resources they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. As we look to the future, your partnership continues to inspire progress and possibility. Together, we are creating opportunities, strengthening our community and ensuring that every Salem State student can succeed. Thank you for your commitment to Salem State. We are grateful to have you as part of the Viking community.