Founders' Day Giving

On a bright October day in 1896, the University of Montevallo opened its doors for the first time, offering opportunity and innovative educational experiences to students eager to expand their minds and achieve their dreams, despite any hardships along the way. Since then, the University has become Alabama’s only public liberal arts university, a beacon of academic excellence and community engagement.

Generations of students have walked the bricks, receiving a transformative, affordable education that has shaped their futures and changed their lives forever.

The University of Montevallo Foundation

For the last five decades, the University of Montevallo Foundation has walked alongside the University. As a separate 501(c)(3), the Foundation supports scholarships, student experiences, programmatic needs, faculty and staff development and capital projects.

The Foundation has been especially critical during challenging times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than $1.2 million was utilized for scholarships, technology and program needs to keep students on their path to learning.

Responding to Today’s Challenges

This year is no different. Spring 2025 revealed budgetary deficits, increased operating costs and deferred infrastructure needs for the University of Montevallo. Once again, the UM Foundation stepped forward.

By leveraging corporate relationships, working closely with administrators, and engaging our board members in discussions about mission-centered priorities and long-term sustainability, the Foundation continues to ensure the strength of the University, even as we make sacrifices within our own operations.

Be Part of the Story!

Together, we are a team galvanized to make the University stronger. This Founders’ Day, we invite you to join us in fortifying the University of Montevallo with a gift to the UM Foundation’s unrestricted fund.

This fund provides the flexibility to address immediate needs, from student scholarships to campus priorities, ensuring that more than 3,000 students continue to receive the transformative Montevallo experience.

Founders’ Day is a time of reflection on your Montevallo experience and thanksgiving for the opportunities it has provided. As we celebrate this legacy, we invite you to help carry it forward, honoring the past and investing in the future.