The Colorado Mesa University Foundation raised $7,088 during the Colorado Gives Day Fundraiser
On December 9, 2025, the Colorado Mesa University Foundation joined 4,618 nonprofits participating in Colorado Gives Day to raise funds for a special cause. This year’s efforts raised a record amount of $7,088.
Colorado Gives Day fundraising is part of the CMU Foundation’s year-long campaign to support the Century Scholarship, which expands scholarship access for Mesa County students and helps reduce financial barriers to college. Throughout the Century Celebration, gifts to the Century endowment are matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling donor impact.
Founded in 1925, Colorado Mesa University has been dedicated to providing affordable, accessible and career-focused education for hundreds of thousands of students. Currently, over 10,000 students are enrolled and are on track to obtain a degree, ranging from a certificate to a doctorate.
Over the past 10 years, the CMU Foundation has quadrupled its ability to fundraise for scholarship dollars, as well as quadrupled the number of students who have earned a scholarship that supports them financially, helping them obtain a certification or degree.
In 2015, the CMU Foundation raised $976,423 and awarded 375 student scholarships. In 2025, $4,711,961 has been awarded to 1,551 students. This impact is made possible by generous donors and supporters who make a range of contributions that significantly impact the lives of CMU students.
The Century Scholarship, originally the Mesa Scholarship Initiative, was created by Joe Higgins in 2017. The scholarship fund was renamed the Century Scholarship in honor of CMU’s 100th anniversary, but the mission has remained the same: to raise the Century Endowment to 10 million dollars. Today, the endowment stands at nearly $8 million, and thanks to the contributions on Colorado Gives Day, the Foundation is that much closer to reaching this goal that serves so many CMU students and helps them achieve their dreams.
“When we get there, it will mean we’re doing the right thing,” Higgins said. “It will say to me that people are making good, sound investments in our students and in our community. Once we hit $10 million, we’ll keep going. Because this work doesn’t end.”
Want to support Mesa County students and contribute to the $10 million goal? Give to the Century Scholarship! Your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar.