Wheaton Associates

The Wheaton Fund is the financial lifeblood of Wheaton College, providing essential support that touches all aspects of the Wheaton experience. It empowers students to pursue an unparalleled, whole-person, life-changing education, and it empowers faculty and staff to provide an unmatched and affordable experience for students. By supporting the Wheaton Fund, you contribute to the foundational strength of the College, enabling it to thrive and excel in its mission. The Wheaton Fund fills the gap, covering the College’s expenses that cannot be covered by tuition and other revenue sources alone. By giving to the Wheaton Fund, you help reduce each student’s annual tuition by about $10,000.

The Wheaton Fund covers the College’s expenses that cannot be met by tuition and other revenue sources alone. Gifts to the Wheaton Fund help reduce each student’s annual tuition by about $10,000. The Wheaton Fund keeps the lights on, the air conditioning flowing, the faculty teaching and researching, and the buildings standing. The Wheaton Fund is seen all across campus through funding:

• Spiritual formation on campus, like chapel services and small groups 
• Need-based and academic financial aid
• Competitive faculty and staff salaries and development 
• Student career services and internship funding 
• Athletics equipment and travel 
• Arts expenses and projects
• Campus ministry opportunities
• Student leadership positions 
• Campus facility maintenance

Abundant generosity from Wheaton Associates creates pathways for the College to support the needs of its students, faculty, and staff, keeping Wheaton at the forefront of Christian liberal arts education. The giving threshold has not changed since the giving society’s founding in 1981. Updating it now honors this tradition while enabling Wheaton to meet rising costs, keep tuition affordable, and sustain Christ-centered excellence in academics, chapel, athletics, and the arts, while also inviting participation from younger alumni and friends. Updating the giving structure offers pathways for all levels of investment, rather than focusing on simply increasing the amount of money donated. An increase in your annual donation to the Wheaton Fund means a stronger impact on the College’s enduring mission and a firm financial foundation for Wheaton in the future.

No. All current Wheaton Associates, as of December 31, 2025, who are not able to increase their giving to an 1860 Society level will remain Wheaton Associates for as long as they continue to give $1,000 annually to the Wheaton Fund. These donors will be counted as Legacy Members of the 1860 Society.

Most Endowment Funds are Designated
Many gifts to the endowment are given for specific purposes, such as scholarships or faculty positions, and must follow donor-intent.

Spending is Purposefully Limited
To ensure the endowment lasts for generations, only about 4–5% of its value is spent each year and any additional earnings are invested back into the endowment to keep up with inflation.

Endowment Size Can’t Match Operating Needs
The endowment is a vital support, but annual expenses like faculty salaries, facilities, and student services often grow faster than endowment returns.

Financial Aid is a Calling and a Cost
We strive to make a Christ-centered education accessible. That means offering significant financial aid, often beyond what endowed scholarships alone can provide.

Markets are Unpredictable
Because endowments are invested, their returns rise and fall with the market. In uncertain times, colleges must spend even more carefully to protect the long-term health of the endowment. The endowment is structured to withstand market volatility and avoids making overly risky investments.

The Wheaton Fund helps keep tuition affordable and Wheaton competitive. Without generous donations from donors like you, tuition costs would increase by a minimum of $10,000 per student each year, a burden the College does not want to shift to its students and their families.

We understand that paying tuition can be a significant financial burden. A Wheaton College education is not merely a transaction; it is a nonprofit organization that exists to form disciples of Christ who think critically, live faithfully, and lead purposefully for the glory of God and the good of the world. God’s provision through the generosity of our community is what ensures this mission remains. If a Wheaton education were a commodity, tuition would be much greater than it is now, increasing the burden on you and our students. The Wheaton Fund exists to benefit our Wheaton families and their students’ experience. If giving to ensure Wheaton College’s mission does not fit into your current financial stewardship and generosity plan, that is okay. Please still support the mission through prayer. One simple and accessible way to support the mission financially is by becoming a Loyal Wheatie with a small monthly gift. A recurring gift of any size strengthens the legacy of generosity from Wheaton families, friends, alumni, and students to make a significant impact on the cost and overall experience of a Wheaton education.

There are many ways to give!

Recurring Gift: We encourage Wheaton Associates to start a monthly recurring gift at the Wheaton Associate level of their choice. 

One-Time Gifts: All one time gifts at the Wheaton Associate level of your choice are welcome. If you would like to remain a Wheaton Associate year after year, be sure to make a one time gift each year. 

IRA QCD Giving: If you are 70 and a half or older, you can give your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your retirement account as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to the Wheaton Fund. Please provide this information to your IRA Custodian:

• Legal Name: Wheaton College
• Permanent Address: 501 College Ave, Wheaton, IL 60187
• Designation: Wheaton Fund
• Taxpayer ID: 36-2182171

DAF Giving: To give via your Donor Advised Fund (DAF), recommend a grant to “Wheaton College” (36-2182171). Please specify your designation as the Wheaton Fund and have it sent to the address below: 

• Wheaton College Advancement Services
  501 College Ave
  Wheaton, IL 60187