Celebrating Our Generous Donors
At North Carolina Wesleyan University, we deeply value the generosity of our donors whose support helps us fulfill our mission of academic excellence and student success. For many good reasons, generous donors have been loyal to North Carolina Wesleyan University. They recognize the achievements of Wesleyan’s students and have confidence in its graduates. Through our donor recognition programs, we honor the individuals, families, and organizations who make a lasting impact on our campus community.
Ways We Say Thank You
Donors may be recognized through:
- Personalized thank-you letters and impact reports
- Invitations to exclusive events and campus celebrations
- Recognition in publications and on donor walls
- Opportunities to meet scholarship recipients and faculty
Your Impact Matters
Every gift, no matter the size, helps shape the future of NCWU. We are grateful for your partnership and proud to recognize your commitment to NCWU students and our mission.
Recognition Societies
We proudly acknowledge our donors through various recognition societies, each representing a unique level of commitment:
Wesleyan Society ($1K and above)
This is the annual giving society for the College’s most generous donors. Those who give $1,000 or more during the fiscal year (June 1- May 31) automatically belong for that year.
Chapel Society ($750 and above)
Serpentine Society ($500 and above)
Fountain Society ($250 and above)
Commons Society ($100 and above)
Carillon Society ($10 and above)
Heritage Society
Honors and recognizes the generosity of alumni and friends who have made a planned giving arrangement with North Carolina Wesleyan University to secure our future.
Spirit of the Flame
Honored individuals whose planned gifts to Wesleyan were received through their estate, leaving a legacy that continues to support future generations and uphold the mission they cherished.
Gifts in Kind
Recognizes those who have given non-cash donations of goods or services to support Wesleyan’s mission.
Recognition Circles
John and Charles Wesley Circle ($5M and above)
Brothers John and Charles Wesley were Anglican clerics and Christian theologians credited with founding the Methodist movement within the Church of England in the 18th Century. Among John’s famous quotes is: “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” Charles Wesley wrote hundreds of poems and hymns, including “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Samuel and Susanna Wesley Circle ($2.5M to $4.9M)
Samuel and Susanna Wesley were parents of 19 children, including John and Charles Wesley. Samuel was Rector of Epworth, England, from 1695 to 1735. Susanna is known as the Mother of Methodism because John and Charles applied her examples and teachings from their home life.
Francis Asbury Circle ($1M to $2.49m)
Francis Asbury, 1745-1816, was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. During his 45-year ministry, he traveled thousands of miles to spread Methodism on the frontier.
Methodist Circle ($750K to $999K)
Wesleyan Circle ($500K to $749K)
Aldersgate Circle ($250K to $499K)
John Wesley describes his “Aldersgate experience” in his journal. During a meeting at Aldersgate Street, “while the leader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.”
Bishop Circle ($100K to $249K)
Get Involved in Our Donor Related Events Throughout the Year
Gather. Compete. Have Fun. Raise $$ For Students.
Fueling Academic Achievement Through Scholarship Support
Scholarship appreciation events provide a meaningful opportunity to bring donors and students together in celebration of generosity, gratitude, and impact. These gatherings create space for scholarship recipients to personally thank those who support their education, share their stories, and reflect on how scholarships have shaped their academic journeys and future aspirations. For donors, the events offer a powerful connection to the lives they are helping transform, reinforcing the lasting value of their investment. Through fellowship, shared stories, and celebration, scholarship appreciation events strengthen relationships, build community, and affirm the shared commitment to student success at North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Annual Battling Bishops Scholarship Brunch Fundraiser
With heartfelt gratitude, we thank the generous donors and sponsors whose support makes the Battling Bishops Brunch and so many student opportunities possible at North Carolina Wesleyan University. Your commitment to annual and endowed scholarships fuels the dreams and achievements of Wesleyan scholars and creates lasting impact across our campus. To our scholarship recipients: those who invest in your education believe in your potential—honor this opportunity through perseverance and purpose, and when you are able, pay it forward for future Bishops.
Each February, NC Wesleyan hosts the Annual Battling Bishops Brunch, a signature event dedicated to strengthening our endowment and expanding scholarship access. Through named scholarships, general funds, or event sponsorships, your partnership ensures access, opportunity, and success for our students while strengthening the Wesleyan community. Join us in making a lasting difference.
Learn more about Battling Bishops Brunch Scholarship Event Sponsor
The North Carolina Conference is one of 53 conferences of The United Methodist Church in the United States. It encompasses 56 counties in eastern North Carolina, from Elon to the coast and from the South Carolina border to the Virginia border. The conference strives to create healthy congregations and effective leaders in every place, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Learn more about the NC Conference at nccumc.org/about.
“North Carolina Wesleyan is an affiliated higher education institution of The United Methodist Church, and we are proud to continue supporting our students, faculty, and staff. As people deeply rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, we are formed through reason, our experiences, scripture, and traditions. North Carolina Wesleyan provides these opportunities to students from around the globe, and we are excited to be a partner in this beautiful ministry. We are grateful to God for NC Wesleyan University and how they provide safe spaces to allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds for the transformation of the world in the image of Jesus Christ.”
– The Rev. Dr. David Joyner
District Superintendent, NC Conference of The United Methodist Church
Heritage District Superintendent Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church – Rocky Mount
The United Methodist Church is a worldwide connection of more than 12 million members in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. We are the person next door, the church on the other side of the country, and the worshiping community across the globe. Together, we share a legacy of living as disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love both in what we say and how we serve our neighbors.
Golden LEAF Scholarship Appreciation
The Golden LEAF Scholarship provides vital financial support to high school seniors and community college transfer students from rural, economically distressed North Carolina counties who plan to enroll full-time at participating colleges and universities across the state. By helping remove financial barriers, the scholarship enables deserving students to pursue higher education while encouraging them to remain connected to their home communities and return after graduation to contribute to local growth and sustainability.
Through its ongoing support of North Carolina Wesleyan University, the Golden LEAF Foundation continues to expand access to educational opportunities for rural students. NCWU also hosts an annual appreciation event for the Golden LEAF Foundation, inviting Golden LEAF Scholars to attend and share their goals, aspirations, and the impact of the scholarship on their lives. This meaningful gathering not only highlights student success but also allows the university to express its gratitude for the Foundation’s investment in Wesleyan and in the future of rural North Carolina.
Rocky Mount Rotary Club Scholarship Appreciation
The Rotary Club Scholarship at North Carolina Wesleyan University reflects a strong partnership with the Rocky Mount Rotary Club, supported in part through funds raised by Tackle the Tar. This scholarship assists deserving students from Nash and Edgecombe counties who demonstrate leadership, good citizenship, community spirit, and academic progress, while maintaining a minimum 2.75 GPA. Awards may be based on merit or financial need and are available to students in their second year of study or higher, including graduate students, with the opportunity to reapply in subsequent years depending on funding and continued academic standing. Each year, Wesleyan hosts members of the Rocky Mount Rotary Club on campus to express appreciation for their generosity, and scholarship recipients are recognized during this special event for their achievements and the impact of Rotary’s support.
